As the summer travel season begins, Puerto Rico’s tourism officials say visitors need not be overly concerned about the Zika virus on the island. Puerto Rico, home to about four million residents and a destination for roughly five million annual visitors, is actively addressing the issue. The Puerto Rico Department of Health is working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to manage and limit the spread of Zika.
“To put this situation into perspective, to date, less than one half of one percent of our population has been affected by the Zika virus,” said Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. “We are doing everything in our power to protect visitors to our island and ensure they can have a worry-free vacation. As a tropical island in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico has significant experience dealing with mosquitoes and related illnesses, and visitors can feel confident that we are putting this expertise to work to protect the safety and welfare of everyone who comes here. We have been proactive in three key areas — preparation, prevention and protection — employing strategies to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, promote bite prevention, train health professionals, implement surveillance systems to better understand and manage the virus, and monitor new research on preventive actions.”
Beyond the work of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and public health agencies, private sector partners across the island are taking action as well. Resorts, restaurants and popular tourist sites are encouraged to monitor mosquito populations, apply targeted control measures where appropriate, and remove conditions that can lead to mosquito breeding.
Visitors planning a trip to Puerto Rico should take routine precautions to avoid mosquito bites, such as using EPA-registered repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants when appropriate, and staying in accommodations with screens or air conditioning. These common-sense steps, combined with ongoing public health efforts and community cooperation, support a safer travel experience.
The island’s coordinated approach—combining public health guidance, local vector-control activities and industry cooperation—aims to minimize risk while preserving Puerto Rico’s warm-weather attractions and hospitality for residents and travelers alike.