Dengue Fever Alert
The Fijian government is advising visitors "to take standard health precautions" during their stay in the country, as local authorities try to tackle a dengue outbreak.
The infection is spread by mosquitoes and a public health expert is urging anyone travelling to places with a current dengue fever outbreak to be vigilant and take sensible precautions - but stresses the chances of contracting the disease are low.
In May 2025, the Cook Islands Health Ministry
declared an outbreak of the viral infection in Rarotonga. Outbreaks have also been declared in Samoa and Tonga. See the following news item from Radio New Zealand.
Fiji Health for Visitors
Fiji is a developing country and the standard of healthcare reflects this. Foreigners can seek treatment at government-run hospitals in Fiji but standards of care are not always good and there tend to be long waiting times.
Hospitals (public/private) and pharmacies are present in all major towns and cities (e.g. Suva, Nadi, Lautoka, Sigatoka, Labasa, Savusavu) and smaller satellite health facilities in more rural areas and outer islands.
The majority of private medical facilities are found in Suva and Nadi. These private hospitals typically have comfortable in-patient facilities, general and specialized practitioners and 24-hour medical centers.
Fiji’s largest private hospital group – Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) Hospitals - now has a state-of-the-art Hyperbaric Chamber at its Nadi based 100-bed speciality hospital. This will benefit members of the general public in the Western Division, the outer islands and the diving fraternity of Fiji as well as the thousands of tourists who visit Fiji to explore the oceans, reefs and rich marine life surrounding the islands.
Travel insurance is not mandatory, but it is recommended.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:
Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines prior to your trip.
Hepatitis A and B, as well as Typhoid vaccinations, are recommended.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from countries with a risk for YF virus transmission.
Food and Water Concerns:
In Fiji, there is an increased risk of contracting hepatitis A and typhoid, which can both be acquired through contaminated food or water.
Although treated and generally safe to drink, tap water in major cities like Suva and Nadi can become contaminated after a storm. In areas farther from urban centers, it is preferable to drink boiled or bottled water because the quality of the water deteriorates.
The cost of bottled water on the islands can be high.
Leptospirosis is a typical infection in Fiji. Due to higher rainfall during the summer, leptospirosis risk also rises during this time.
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 fish poisoning is a common concern in Fiji, particularly during warmer months and cyclone seasons 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:
Fiji is currently free of Malaria.
Yachts arriving from the List of Countries/Ports given below will need to have Anti-Malarial Spraying conducted on board prior to docking and crew going ashore (
see clearance for details).
- Papua New Guinea
- Vanuatu
- Solomon Islands
- Brisbane, Australia
- Gold Coast, Australia
- East Indies
- Asia
Dengue fever is present in Fiji.
Fiji has a history of previous
Zika Virus transmission. There is currently no evidence of an ongoing Zika Virus outbreak, however, because of the risks to pregnancy, travelers should consult the
CDC Travelers’ Health website for the most current recommendations for Zika.
Precautions should be taken to avoid mosquito bites during the day and night.
Prevention:
- Use a repellent containing 20%-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin on exposed skin. Re-apply according to the manufacturer's directions.
- Wear neutral-colored (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.
Prescription Drugs:
If you are carrying controlled substances or prescription medications, you must have a prescription from your doctor stating that the medication is being used as directed and is required for your physical well-being.
Emergency Numbers:
See
Emergencies.
For a list of major hospitals or clinics and other health tips on the island, visit the
Tourism Fiji webpage.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are also available on-site at several resorts, which offer urgent air, land, and sea services for a variety of medical problems, including medical evacuations if necessary.
Useful links:
Last updated: March 2025
