A Caribbean nation has added a new measles requirement to tourists, including those that visit by cruise ship.
Honduran authorities recently announced that they're requiring documentation to show proof of a measles vaccine for travelers coming from the United States, even those arriving by sea.
If someone can't receive the vaccine, they must show proof 72 to 80 hours before their flight of a negative measles test.
The new requirement went into effect four days ago, but travelers onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships haven't been notified about any changes regarding the updated entry rules, leaving passengers confused about what to expect.
Honduras' new health measure seems to be part of a broader effort to prevent the spread of measles, a highly contagious virus that infected roughly 10.3 million people worldwide in 2023, amid rising global numbers, particularly in the United States.
A few days ago, Michigan reported the state's second outbreak, bringing the U.S.'s total confirmed cases this year to over 1,200. Health workers have also been rushing to contain an outbreak in a country jail in New Mexico, according to the Associated Press.
As of June 24, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a total of 1,227 measles cases in 37 states and jurisdictions, including:
- Alaska
- Arkansa
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York City
- New York State
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
In 95% of cases, the vaccination status is "unvaccinated or unknown." Just 5% of the confirmed cases have had either one or two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Measles symptoms typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and/or red, watery eyes. Within a few days, small white spots, known as Koplik spots, may appear inside the mouth, followed by a distinctive red rash that can spread from the head to the rest of the body.
The virus is dangerous and can lead to serious complications, especially in babies and young children.
Roatán is a popular port of call on Western Caribbean itineraries
In July and August, four Royal Caribbean ships are slated to call at the Coxen Hole port in Roatán: Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas.
Carnival also has a private port in Honduras called Mahogany Bay. Between both ports of call, over 25 visits are expected in July alone.
This means thousands of U.S travelers could be affected by the new vaccination requirement this summer.
The U.S. Embassy in Honduras advises travelers to have travel documents up to date and easily accessible, as well as to carry proper identification at all times. It's also important to visit the CDC Travelers' Health Page and monitor local media for updates.