Jamaica

Destination overview

Located 776 km (>480 mi) from the United States, Jamaica is the most populous English-speaking country in the Caribbean. The central two-thirds of the island is mountainous; Blue Mountain Peak, the highest peak on the island, is 2,256 m (7,402 ft) in elevation. The island has several beautiful beaches, with those located on the northern coast recognized for being some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Jamaica is also known for Reggae music and jerk cuisine.

Map 11.2.6.1

SOURCE:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This map of Jamaica shows its major cities, towns, and key landmarks. The island features destinations such as Kingston (the capital), Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Spanish Town. Other popular locations include Discovery Bay, Falmouth, Lucea, Port Maria, and Port Royal. Geographical features include Blue Mountain Peak, the highest point in Jamaica at 2,256 meters, located in the eastern part of the island. The Caribbean Sea surrounds Jamaica, with various coastal towns and cities along the shoreline. An inset map in the bottom left shows where Jamaica is within the Caribbean region.

Show Text Description

Infectious disease risks

In addition to being up to date on routine vaccines, unvaccinated travelers should receive the hepatitis A vaccine series and the most recently recommended COVID-19 vaccine.

Enteric infections and diseases

Tap water is safe for drinking, and hotels are usually equipped with water filtration systems. At many hotels, complimentary bottled water is also available upon request.

Travelers' diarrhea

Visitors to Jamaica will want to experience the local cuisine, ranging from jerked pork and chicken, ackee and salt fish, various seafood and curried dishes, and much more. Remind travelers to select food and beverages carefully (see Food and Water Precautions in Travelers chapter). Travelers' diarrhea is one of the most common travel-related illnesses, and travelers to Jamaica experience attack rates of 8%–20% (see Travelers' Diarrhea chapter). Jamaica is unique among tourist destinations for having a hotel-based surveillance system that reports illness and injuries among travelers; exit surveys, occasionally conducted at airports among departing travelers, are used to estimate the risk of travelers' diarrhea. Consuming improperly prepared ackee fruit (the national dish) carries additional health risks (see the section on Poisoning, later in this chapter and Poisonings, Envenomations, and Toxic Exposures During Travel chapter).

Typhoid fever

The last confirmed case of typhoid fever in Jamaica was in the early 1990s. The risk of typhoid fever is low, and, in most cases, vaccination against typhoid is not recommended. Vaccination is recommended, however, for those intending to venture outside the usual tourist areas or travel extensively in rural areas of the country (e.g., trekkers and hikers), people traveling for work in remote areas, or travelers visiting the island for extended periods (see Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever chapter).

Respiratory infections and diseases

Coronavirus disease 2019

For current information on COVID-19 in Jamaica, consult the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica. All travelers going to Jamaica should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Influenza

Annual influenza activity in Jamaica often starts in October–November, peaks between December–March, and can last as late as May. The CDC recommends an annual vaccination against influenza prior to the start of influenza season.

Tuberculosis

Jamaica has an estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidence of 3 per 100,000 population and is classified by the World Health Organization as a low TB burden country (<10 cases per 100,000 population per year). Short-term travelers are not at high risk of TB unless they are residing or spending extended time in specific crowded environments (e.g., shared room hostels, prisons) or healthcare settings.

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV

Sexually transmitted infections reported in Jamaica include chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis. An estimated 30,000 people in Jamaica are living with HIV. The country has an HIV prevalence of 1.3% in the general population and 30% in men who have sex with men. In 2022, only 50% of people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy, of which 45% had a suppressed viral load. All HIV services are free in Jamaica to citizens and legal residents. High-quality condoms are distributed at local health centers and can also be purchased at many pharmacies and supermarkets.

Soil- and water-borne infections

Leptospirosis

In Jamaica, leptospirosis is associated with exposure to freshwater (see Leptospirosis chapter). Advise travelers to avoid bathing, swimming, or wading in freshwater sources, particularly after heavy rains. If entering a freshwater source cannot be avoided, all open wounds and breaks in the skin should be covered with a waterproof bandage. Some studies have shown that chemoprophylaxis with doxycycline (200 mg orally, weekly), begun 1–2 days before and continuing through the period of exposure, might be effective in preventing clinical disease in adults.

Vector-borne diseases

Arboviruses: Chikungunya, dengue, and Zika

Chikungunya and Zika, first reported in Jamaica in 2014 and 2016, respectively, are now endemic to the island (see Chikungunya and Zika chapters). Find the most recent Zika travel information for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Over the past 25 years, the frequency and severity of cases of dengue have increased; although cases are reported every year, there have been 8 major dengue outbreaks in the country (see Dengue chapter). Transmission (by the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector) of all 3 viruses is seasonal, occurring most commonly during the wet season, which coincides with the June–November hurricane season. Instruct travelers to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (see Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods chapter).

Malaria

Malaria was eliminated in Jamaica in 2012. Since then, Jamaica health systems have only detected imported cases of malaria.

Yellow fever

Yellow fever is not a risk in Jamaica. The Government of Jamaica, however, requires proof of vaccination against yellow fever from travelers arriving from countries where there is risk of yellow fever virus transmission or who have >12-hour airport layovers or transits through countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. For more details, see Yellow Fever Vaccine and Malaria Prevention Information, by Country and Yellow Fever chapters.

Environmental hazards and risks

The average temperature in Jamaica is 27.1°C (81°F), with temperatures reaching the high 80s to mid-90s from June–November. Temperatures typically cool to the low 70s in January and February. Advise travelers to apply sunscreen when headed outdoors, even in the cooler months, because sunburns can occur year-round (see Sun Exposure in Travelers chapter).

Beach and ocean risks

Many travelers visit Jamaica to experience its stunning aquatic attractions. Travelers should be advised of the potential risk associated with the sting from a lionfish spine, which may result in severe pain, muscle cramps, sweating, and fainting. The Jamaican reefs are among the most species-rich in the Caribbean, and some resorts provide diving instruction. In the event of decompression illness, Jamaica has a decompression facility in Discovery Bay on the north coast near many of the diving areas (see Scuba Diving: Decompression Illness and Other Dive-Related Injuries chapter).

Hiking

Hiking overnight to catch the sunrise on Blue Mountain Peak is exhilarating and exhausting. The rise to the peak from the coastal plain is one of the steepest gradients in the world. Instruct travelers to use known tour operators or hike with guides familiar with the trail. Jamaica has many endemic flowering plant species, and more than 40% of the flowering plants in the Blue Mountains are found nowhere else in the world. Travelers may also encounter wild and endangered animal species. Although Jamaica is warm, the temperature at the mountain peak can be cold, especially between December–June, with temperatures as low as 5°C (40°F). To avoid the risk of decompression sickness, advise travelers to avoid mountain climbing within 24 hours after diving.

Natural disasters

Earthquakes

Located in a geologically active area, Jamaica is subject to occasional earthquakes. The 1692 earthquake remains the largest earthquake and was felt island wide. There has been a recent increase in earthquakes, with over 300 small earthquakes reported during 2023–2024, the largest of which had a magnitude of 5.6.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Like other countries in the Caribbean, Jamaica regularly experiences cyclones, storms, tropical depressions, and heavy rains. In the past 20 years, the country has faced threats (i.e., watch or warning) from 12 major Atlantic hurricanes. The strongest storm to ever make landfall was Hurricane Gilbert, which struck in 1988 as a Category 3 hurricane. Flooding is common following heavy rains but is limited to low-lying areas. Educate travelers about the U.S. Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which sends electronic updates to enrolled travelers about weather conditions at their destination and helps the embassy or consulate contact them if there is an emergency.

Poisonings

Ackee fruit

Ackee is a red-skinned fruit with gold-colored flesh. Although generally considered safe to eat, counsel travelers against consuming the fruit raw and to try it only when prepared by a reliable source. Ackee fruit must be allowed to ripen fully before being eaten; the ripening (opening of the fruit naturally) process permits clearance of a naturally occurring, heat-stable toxin, hypoglycin A. If the fruit is forced opened and consumed before it is ripe, the toxin present in the flesh can precipitate a drop in blood sugar causing abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and, in rare cases, convulsions, coma, and death. Cooking the fruit does not inactivate the toxin (see Poisonings, Envenomations, and Toxic Exposures During Travel chapter).

Ciguatera fish poisoning

Ciguatera fish poisoning is common in tropical waters and is due to the consumption of certain species of marine fish, including barracuda, grouper, moray eel, sea bass, sturgeon, or surgeonfish (see Food Poisoning from Marine Toxins chapter). Because ciguatoxin is temperature stable, cooking or freezing will not remove the toxin. The illness is usually characterized by nausea, vomiting, and central nervous symptom depression. Outbreaks are sporadic and underreported. The most recent suspected outbreak in Jamaica due to barracuda consumption was reported in 2020.

Safety and security

Crime

The very high crime rate in Jamaica presents safety and security concerns for travelers. In 2020 and 2021, Jamaica had the highest murder rate in both the Caribbean and Latin America, and the second highest rate in 2022. Even though there has been a 7.8% decrease in the murder rate in Jamaica, the 2023 rate still ranks amongst the highest in the region and exceeds the global average. In addition to homicides, other violent crimes such as armed robberies, home invasions, and sexual assaults are common. Since 2023, the country has been adding new technologies and increased law enforcement staff to stem the crime rate. Timely and effective responses from the local police are limited by available personnel, technology, and financial resources. Advise travelers to avoid walking or driving at night, riding in public buses, and being in secluded areas. Counsel travelers to maintain situational awareness, to be vigilant, and to always take security precautions, even within resort facilities (see Safety and Security Overseas chapter). Find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories for Jamaica. The U.S. Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) sends electronic updates to enrolled travelers about safety conditions at their destination.

Traffic-related injuries

Driving in Jamaica is on the left side of the road and most vehicles have a steering wheel on the right. Road conditions are generally poor, speed limits are often not adhered to, and vendors and cyclists share the roadways with motor vehicles. In 2023, there was a decrease in road fatalities, with the number of road traffic deaths being 18 per 100,000 population, but this was higher than the average for the region. Motor vehicle injuries are the most common cause of death for healthy U.S. residents traveling abroad (see Injury and Death During Travel chapter). Advise travelers to follow road safety precautions when driving or riding in a motor vehicle in Jamaica.

Availability and quality of medical care

Publicly funded health care is available to visitors at a cost, and private insurance is accepted at public sites, including over 400 health centers and hospitals throughout the island. Private hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers are available to visitors and usually offer broader diagnostic and treatment options, more comfortable settings, and shorter waiting times than public facilities.

Pharmacies carry a wide variety of medications for common chronic, acute, and infectious illnesses, with specialty drugs available from four referral/specialist hospitals. The only referral/specialist hospital within the tourism belt but outside the capital is Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James. Drug formulations and brand names may differ from those in North America; advise travelers intending on obtaining medication refills in Jamaica against this practice. For medical emergencies that exceed in-country capacity, medical evacuation may be necessary. The U.S. Department of State encourages tourists to obtain travel insurance including medical evacuation insurance before traveling to Jamaica. Discuss with patients the importance of purchasing travel health insurance and medical evacuation insurance and packing a first aid kit (see Travel Insurance, Travel Health Insurance, and Medical Evacuation Insurance and Travel Health Kits chapters).