Dengue In St. John, St. Thomas, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands - 2025
Travelers planning trips to the USVI in 2025 may have seen recent news reports about dengue cases rising in the Virgin Islands. This article will provide more reporting on dengue in the USVI, along with insights and additional perspectives to help travelers assess dengue risks in the Virgin Islands.
In August 2024, the Virgin Islands Department of Health declared a dengue outbreak in the St. Thomas-St. John District. At that time, 82 cases were reported: 63 on St. Thomas, 18 on St. John, and one on St. Croix. The department acknowledged that cases on St. Croix were likely underreported and urged residents to seek testing if symptomatic.
2025 / 2024 USVI Dengue Cases Vs. US States
| Location | Locally Acquired Cases (2024) | Locally Acquired Cases (2025 as of March 7) | Travel-Associated Cases (2024) | Hospitalizations | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 91 | - | 1,016 | - | - |
| California | 18 | - | 648 | - | - |
| Texas | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| New York | - | - | 327 | - | - |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 208 | 30 | - | - | - |
| Puerto Rico | 6,291 | 936 | - | 3,292 | 13 |
Dengue Reports for Week 10, 2025
| Country | Reported Cases |
|---|---|
| Argentina | 421 |
| Barbados | 4 |
| Brazil | 122,409 |
| Colombia | 3,126 |
| Costa Rica | 202 |
| Ecuador | 931 |
| El Salvador | 97 |
| Grenada | 6 |
| Guatemala | 1,115 |
| Honduras | 377 |
| Mexico | 2,016 |
| Panama | 263 |
| Paraguay | 1,194 |
| Saint Lucia | 2 |
| Total | 132,163 |
Dengue In St. John, St. Thomas 2025
This Reddit post on March 11, 2025 is a good source of feedback from locals and travelers who discussed dengue fever cases and risks for St. John and St. Thomas, USVI. Below is a summary of user feedback for anyone worried about dengue in St. John and / or St. Thomas.
Users' Views on Dengue Risk in St. John, USVI (2025)
| User | Comment |
|---|---|
| swamprat2 | I didn't hear of any Dengue Fever while we were there in January. |
| whatsmynameagain69 | I haven't heard of anyone having it lately but that doesn't mean it's not around. |
| Outerbanxious | Avoid the beaches around dusk. Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are bad. Wear repellent at night, and many restaurants provide bug spray behind the bar. |
| buecker02 | There was an outbreak last year in St. Croix (STX), but St. Thomas (STT) and St. John (STJ) reported very few cases. No major issues right now. |
| jb047w | There were 37 cases in STJ last year, but I haven't heard of any recent cases. Wear mosquito repellent and bright clothes, mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors. |
| buecker02 | As of 2025, there are 15 confirmed cases, all in St. Croix (STX), with no new cases reported in St. John (STJ) this year. |
| SHmvST | Live here and haven't heard of a single case. |
| Purple_Mind_1245 | There were nearly 40 reported cases on STJ last year. Not sure about this year, but pregnant and concerned about the risks. Looking for current reports on STJ. |
| famousskincare | I had it in February and it was severe. Still recovering from the fatigue. |
| CalmAd6838 | Visited last July. Brought DEET repellant, applied regularly, and never had any problem despite staying outside of town. |
Aedes Mosquito
The female Aedes (which can include species like aegypti or albopictus mosquito, though it is the aegypti species that is a vector for dengue in the USVI) spreads diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya as it injects its proboscis into the exposed skin of humans, usually around the ankles or other areas not covered in thick and tight-knit enough clothing or sprayed with mosquito repellent that is proven to repel this dengue-carrying mosquitoes. Below is a table showing a list of chemicals and how long they may work to repel the Aedes, derived from Nature and the Journal of Travel Medicine. This list may help travelers determine the best mosquito repellent for their needs when visiting the Virgin Islands.
Repellent Efficacy Against Aedes aegypti
| Repellent (Concentration) | Complete Protection Time (CPT) in Minutes |
|---|---|
| DEET (20-30%) | Up to 360 |
| Picaridin (20%) | Up to 720 |
| Clove Oil (10%) | 210 |
| Cinnamon Oil (10%) | 150 |
| Geraniol (10%) | 120 |
| Peppermint Oil (10%) | 90 |
| Lemongrass Oil (10%) | 60 |
| Garlic Oil (10%) | 30 |
| Rosemary Oil (10%) | 30 |
| Thyme Oil (10%) | 30 |
| Cedarwood Oil (10%) | 15 |
| Citronella Oil (10%) | 15 |
| Linseed Oil (10%) | 15 |
| Sesame Oil (10%) | 15 |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (10%) | 15 |
| Soybean Oil (10%) | 15 |
| White Mineral Oil (10%) | 15 |
| Castor Oil (10%) | 0 |
| Corn Oil (10%) | 0 |
| Lauryl Sulfate (10%) | 0 |
| Potassium Sorbate (10%) | 0 |
| Sodium Chloride (10%) | 0 |
Other Mosquito-Spread Tropical Diseases In The Virgin Islands
Besides dengue, other tropical diseases in the U.S.V.I that are spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes include: Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya. Yellow Fever, (nor malaria, for anyone wondering), are not present in the U.S.V.I.
Disclaimer: The above information may contain mistakes and / or inaccuracies. Make sure to validate all of the above information with experts, verify all sources, and do your own research. Do not depend on the above exclusively to assess dengue travel risk in the Virgin Islands.