Mosquitoes and dengue in the Maldives: what to know

• Dengue: present all year, spread by day-biting *Aedes* mosquitoes. Cases rise and fall, sometimes sharply.
• Malaria: none since WHO certification in 2015.
• Chikungunya: spread by the same mosquitoes; outbreaks happen from time to time.
• Prevention: repellent, light long clothing, screens or nets, and fans or air conditioning at night.
• If you feel unwell: high fever, headache, eye pain, body aches or a rash means see a doctor. Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin until dengue has been ruled out.
• Emergencies: call 911 (the single national emergency number) or 102 for an ambulance.

Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. It is common across the tropics, and the Maldives is no exception. The national body that tracks it is the Health Protection Agency (HPA), part of the Ministry of Health. It publishes regular updates and issues warnings when case numbers climb.

Numbers vary a lot from year to year. 2025 was fairly quiet; early 2026 was much busier. By late April 2026 the HPA had recorded more than 2,100 cases since January, against fewer than 400 in the same months of 2025, as reported by Atoll Times. By 1 June 2026 the total had reached 2,969 cases, according to the UK government’s travel health service (NaTHNaC). Most of those cases were in the atolls rather than Malé. Cases then eased from June.

What this means for you:

• Dengue is a real but manageable risk, on local islands and in the capital alike.
• There is no single “safe” month. The rainy southwest monsoon (mid-May to November) brings more standing water, but the 2026 rise came in the dry and transition months. Take the same care whatever time of year you visit. See our best time to visit the Maldives guide for the seasons.
• Before you fly, check the HPA’s latest updates and your government’s travel advice.

Who is most at risk?

Most people with dengue have a mild or moderate illness and recover in one to two weeks. A small number develop severe dengue, which needs hospital care. The risk is higher for people who have had dengue before, babies, older people, pregnant women and those with some long-term conditions.

Dengue and chikungunya are spread mainly by *Aedes aegypti*, a small dark mosquito with white markings on its legs. A few things about it are worth knowing:

• It bites by day. Peak biting is in the early morning and late afternoon, not just at night. This is the main difference from malaria mosquitoes.
• It lives close to people. It breeds in small pools of clean, still water: buckets, plant pots, old tyres, blocked gutters, coconut shells and discarded bottles.

This is why the HPA’s main message to residents is to remove standing water.

Malaria

The World Health Organization certified the Maldives malaria-free in 2015, the first country in its South-East Asia Region to reach that status. Malaria tablets are not needed for a trip to the Maldives alone.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is spread by the same *Aedes* mosquitoes. It causes fever and painful joints, which can last for weeks. The Maldives had a large outbreak in 2019 and another rise in spring 2024, mostly in the Greater Malé area (as reported). The same prevention steps protect against both dengue and chikungunya.

Zika

Zika is also carried by *Aedes* mosquitoes. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, ask a travel health clinic for current advice before you book.

You cannot remove all risk, but a few habits cut it a great deal.

On your skin

• Use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin (icaridin), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD). Follow the label, especially for children.
• Apply sunscreen first, then repellent on top. Reapply repellent after swimming or heavy sweating.
• Bring repellent from home; choice in island shops can be limited.

What you wear

• Light, loose clothes that cover arms and legs help a lot, especially at dawn and dusk.
• This fits well with local island dress norms anyway. Away from the bikini beach, covering shoulders and knees is expected. Our guide on what to wear in the Maldives has more.

Where you sleep

• Choose rooms with window screens, air conditioning or a ceiling fan. Mosquitoes are weak fliers and struggle in moving air.
• Keep doors and screens shut, especially in the late afternoon.
• A bed net is useful if your room has no screens or if you are travelling with a baby.

For a full kit list, see the what to pack for Dhiffushi guide. It works for most local islands.

Symptoms usually start 4 to 10 days after the bite. They may begin after you get home, so mention your trip to your doctor.

Common signs:

• sudden high fever
• severe headache and pain behind the eyes
• muscle and joint pain
• nausea or vomiting
• a rash, often a few days in

What to do

• See a doctor. On a local island, go to the island health centre. Tell them you have a fever and could have dengue. A simple blood test can help confirm it.
• Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Water, oral rehydration salts and coconut water all help.
• Use paracetamol for fever and pain, following the dose on the pack.
• Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and other anti-inflammatory painkillers unless a doctor says otherwise. They can raise the risk of bleeding if you have dengue.
• Protect others. Keep using repellent while you are ill, so local mosquitoes do not pick up the virus from you.

Warning signs: get help fast

Severe dengue can develop around the time the fever drops, often three to seven days in. Go to a hospital straight away, or call 911 or 102, if you or someone with you has:

• severe stomach pain or vomiting that will not stop
• bleeding gums or nose, or blood in vomit or stools
• fast breathing, restlessness or great tiredness
• cold, clammy skin or feeling faint

Most inhabited islands have a health centre with a doctor and nurses. They can assess a fever, run basic tests and advise you. In Dhiffushi, the island health centre is the first stop.

Fully equipped hospitals are only in Malé and Hulhumalé, according to the UK government’s travel advice. The main public hospital is Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Malé. If a health centre thinks you need hospital care, they will arrange transfer by boat. On islands close to Malé, such as Dhiffushi, that is a speedboat trip of under an hour. From remote atolls it can take much longer, which is one reason good insurance matters.

Emergency numbers

Our is the Maldives safe? guide covers wider health and safety.

• Visit a travel health clinic four to eight weeks before you leave. They can talk through dengue, routine vaccines and anything specific to you.
• Ask about dengue vaccines. Some countries now offer a dengue vaccine to certain travellers, usually those who have had dengue before. Your clinic can tell you whether it applies to you.
• Get travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and hospital stays. See our travel insurance for the Maldives guide.
• Pack your basics: repellent, paracetamol, oral rehydration salts, a thermometer and any regular medicines. Check our guide to bringing medicines into the Maldives for the rules.

A little care is enough for most visitors. For more on staying on an inhabited island, read our Maldives local islands guide.