Are There Mosquitoes in Fiji?
Just as much as we love the warm weather in Fiji, the mosquitoes love it too. But despite popular belief, the mosquitoes are not THAT bad in Fiji. You certainly won’t see mosquitoes in their swarms compared to other tropical countries. What’s more, Fiji is free from malaria, yellow fever and major tropical diseases. Plus, the zika virus has never been an issue in Fiji. All in all, there is no need to panic about mosquitoes in Fiji. However, the annoying itch after being bitten by a mosquito is still no fun. With that in mind, we have put this trusty list together of the ways to avoid mosquito bites in Fiji!
For more information concerning health and safety in Fiji, head over to our How to Keep Safe in Fiji, as well as our What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Fiji.
1. Use Mosquito Repellents
Insect and mosquito repellent is the obvious go-to for avoiding mosquito bites in Fiji. They are available in pharmacies both in Fiji and overseas and come in different forms from sprays to balms. However, a common ingredient used in insect repellent is DEET. DEET is quite toxic, especially when mixed with chemicals in sunscreens and even other cosmetics such as moisturisers. For this reason, we recommend the natural insect repellents that are free from DEET, such as this All Terrain Natural Insect Repellent.
© Maxpixel2. Stay in Leading Resorts
Fiji’s leading and larger resorts do their utmost to protect their guests from mosquitoes. Resort staff spray mosquito repellent around the resorts regularly to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Don’t worry, there are no funny chemical aromas because of this; you won’t even know they are doing it.
© FijiPocketGuide.com3. Head to the Yasawa Islands
A small island group stretching north of Viti Levu, the Yasawa Islands benefit from being the driest part of Fiji. For this reason, they are known for having fewer mosquitos. So consider hitting one of the island resorts of homestays up there and enjoy your time in paradise! Check out some of the 10 Best Resorts in the Yasawa Islands.
© FijiPocketGuide.com4. Avoid Going Out Just After the Rain
After rainfall is when the mosquitoes are most active. They love the wet weather! So if you’re worried about mosquitoes, consider spending the next 12 hours hanging out in the resort or going for a swim in the pool.
© FijiPocketGuide.com5. Don’t Hang Out Near Stagnant Ponds or Puddles
As we were saying, mosquitoes love the wet weather, and they love stagnant pools of water more. Stagnant ponds or puddles are where mosquitoes live, so take your casual chat away from any stagnant water areas. Swimming pools are fine, as the water is always moving, but you might want to consider taking a sun lounger away from any puddles on the floor.
© Fiji Pocket Guide6. Avoid the Wet Season
For reasons we’ve already discussed, you might also want to avoid the wet season in Fiji. Fiji’s wet season is between December and April. That’s only if you desperately want to avoid the mosquitoes. Otherwise, the wet season has many advantages for travellers. Check out 10 Reasons to Travel in the Low Season in Fiji.
© Pexels7. Sleep With a Mosquito Net…
… (Or screens over the windows). Every hotel room, resort room, bure and even homestays in Fiji will supply either mosquito nets over the beds or netted screens over the windows. Just remember to keep the netted screens closed as often as possible!
© Chris Clogg on Flickr8. Take Vitamin B
You know what mosquitoes don’t love? Vitamin B! While it’s not solidly scientifically proven that vitamin B keeps the mosquitoes at bay, it is a popular belief that having enough of it in your system will help. Vitamin B is plentiful in seafood, like fish, crab and clams (which isn’t exactly difficult to find in Fiji), as well as bananas, potatoes and eggs. Alternatively, you can take vitamin B dietary supplements, such as this Vitamin B Complex Supplements. Ask your doctor in case of doubt.
© Fiji Pocket Guide9. Take Antihistamine
While antihistamines are known for being a good remedy to avoid allergic reactions and itching once bitten, it’s popularly known for helping to prevent bites in the first place. Check out these GoodSense antihistamine tablets as a good example. Again, if in doubt ask your doctor.
© Pexels10. Use Antiseptic Soothing Cream or Spray
Ok, so this one is for if you are bitten, rather than to prevent bites. Nevertheless, you still might find this information useful in case one of those pesky insects has managed to get at your skin. Creams like All Moms Natural Soothing Cream relieve the itch of mosquito bites, but they also greatly reduce the risk of infection.
© Fiji Pocket Guide11. Try Zapit Devices
These cool little gadgets are a fun yet effective way of reducing the urge to scratch your itchy mosquito bites. Just hold the Zapit over your bite making contact with the skin and press the button to release a quick burst of electricity. Some devices have different settings to adjust the strength, so you can use it on children too. Check out Zapit devices like this Bite Helper.
© Amazon12. Get Your Vaccinations Done
As we said, vaccinations are not necessary for Fiji, as the mosquitoes do not carry any major tropical diseases. Find out more about getting Vaccinations for Fiji here. However, for those of you that are nervous about it, there’s no harm in getting the vaccinations anyway.
© PexelsMore Ways to Avoid Mosquitos in Fiji and Other Health Tips
