American Samoa Health for Visitors
Medical facilities in American Samoa are basic, and evacuation may be necessary via air ambulance to Hawaii, New Zealand, or Australia.
Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, located in Faga'alu, Maoputasi County, is the only hospital in American Samoa and is considered to be one of the top medical facilities in the Pacific. There are also community health clinic sites. The American Samoa Department of Health (AS DOH) is in charge of other public health needs.
Immediate cash payment for health services is expected.
There is only one pharmacy in American Samoa, so getting medications to the outer islands can be difficult.
There is a hyperbaric (decompression) chamber available at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center (Tel.: +1 684 633 1222) in Fagaalu on the island of Tutuila.
All visitors must ensure to have adequate travel health insurance.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:
Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date.
Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended for unvaccinated travelers.
Typhoid vaccination is highly recommended for travelers visiting smaller cities or rural areas.
Measles cases are increasing globally. It is recommended to be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine at least two weeks prior to departure.
Food and Water Concerns:
Drinking Water
The safety of drinking water in American Samoa varies based on source and location. To prevent any possible health hazards linked with untreated sources, it is generally advised that visitors use bottled or purified water.
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning
Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is a foodborne illness caused by consuming fish contaminated with ciguatoxins, which are produced by dinoflagellates that live on coral reefs. Ciguatera may be present in American Samoa, so avoid eating local shellfish or lagoon fish as they are often contaminated with Ciguatera.
Carolyn Shearlock from The Boat Gallery has written a cautionary article to raise awareness about Ciguatera after speaking with many cruisers who were not aware that eating reef fish can make you sick.
Mosquito-borne Diseases:
Dengue and
Zika virus are a risk in American Samoa.
Because of the risks to pregnancy, travelers should consult the
CDC Travelers’ Health website for the most current recommendations for Zika.
Prevention:
- Use a repellent containing 20%-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin on exposed skin.
- Re-apply according to the manufacturer's directions.
- Wear neutral coloured (beige, light grey) long-sleeved clothing.
- Pre-soak or spray the outer layer of clothing and gear with permethrin.
- Ensure that the hatch and window screens work properly.
Other Diseases - Animals:
There is a large population of stray dogs in American Samoa that are allowed to roam freely. According to the CDC, American Samoa is free of dog rabies.
Prescription Drugs:
Ensure to bring essential medications like aspirin, paracetamol, cold capsules, band-aids, sunscreen, vitamins, anti-diarrhea pills, and insect repellant when traveling in the region due to potential shortages.
Some prescription medications are not allowed into the United States. For information and guidance on importing medications into the United States, consult the
US Food and Drug Administration website.
Emergency Numbers:
See
Emergencies.
Useful links:
Last updated: August 2025
