Guides

Flu season in Puerto Rico: when to see a doctor

Name: Flu season in Puerto Rico: when to see a doctor | The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-11

During flu season in Puerto Rico, go to an emergency room or call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion or dehydration. With fever, cough and body aches but none of those signs, a video visit can evaluate you. Antiviral medicine, when appropriate, works best when started early, ideally within the first 48 hours of symptoms.

Can we help by telehealth?SometimesIt depends on the evaluation.

$79Doctor visit

Is it an emergency? Call 911.

Doctor visit: $79 — Book See prices and what each includes

Pay now, then choose your time right away. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead.

See the cancellation policy

You can cancel for a full refund or change the time up to 24 hours before your visit. Within 24 hours you can't cancel and there's no refund. If you don't join in the first 10 minutes, there's no refund.

If you choose a time less than 24 hours away, it can't be cancelled or changed.

If the clinic can't see you, for example because of a technical problem on our side, we refund you in full.

Is this an emergency?

This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:

Trouble breathing, very fast breathing or blue lips
Chest pain or pressure that does not go away
Confusion, extreme sleepiness or trouble waking
Dehydration: almost no urine, dry mouth, dizziness on standing or you cannot keep fluids down
Seizures or very marked weakness
You improve and then the fever returns with a worse cough, or a chronic condition (asthma, diabetes, heart) gets worse
In children: fast breathing, not drinking, not waking or not interacting; a baby under 3 months with fever needs the ER right away

Call 911

Help lines

Warning signs: when to go to the ER

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Flu season in Puerto Rico: when it happens

It is worth staying alert to influenza throughout the year, not just in December and January. Puerto Rico's Department of Health publishes influenza updates at salud.pr.gov.

The latest reports are on salud.pr.gov (see the sources). This guide does not say whether the current season is better or worse than others: check the Department's newest report.

The Health Initiative · Telehealth

Request your visit now, from home and without driving. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.

The doctor evaluates you and tells you what you most likely have and what to do.
If appropriate, she prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
If needed, she gives you a lab order or a doctor’s note.

Before you request a visit, check the warning signs on this page. If you have any of them, do not wait: call 911 or go to the emergency room. See the warning signs

$79Doctor visit

Request your visit now

Charged when you request · full refund if the clinic can’t see you

Video doctor visits 24/7 — book online and choose your time right away.

For problems that are not emergencies. In an emergency, call 911. The doctor decides at the visit whether a treatment is right for you.

Symptoms: flu, a cold, COVID-19 or dengue?

Flu often starts suddenly with fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache and fatigue. In Puerto Rico a fever can also be dengue or COVID-19, and sometimes they cannot be told apart without a test. To compare, read the flu symptoms page and the guide to fever: dengue, flu or COVID-19. If a fever comes with belly pain, repeated vomiting or bleeding gums, go to the ER: these can be dengue warning signs.

When to go to the ER or call 911

Per the CDC, these are signs that emergency care is needed. Do not wait for a visit:

Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
Chest or abdominal pain or pressure that does not go away
Sudden dizziness, confusion or trouble waking
Severe or persistent vomiting, or signs of dehydration
Getting better and then a worse fever and cough
In children: fast breathing, blue lips or face, not drinking, not waking or not interacting, extreme irritability
A baby under 3 months with a fever

Who is at higher risk of complications

Per the CDC, higher risk includes children under 5 (especially under 2), adults 65 and older, people who are pregnant or just gave birth, and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease, or a weakened immune system. If you are in one of these groups and have symptoms, do not wait to see if it passes: get care early, because antiviral treatment is decided early.

When a video visit is a good option

If you have flu symptoms and none of the emergency signs above, online urgent care saves you the trip and the waiting room. The doctor asks about your symptoms, evaluates you on camera and explains how to care for yourself at home: fluids, rest, fever control and which warning signs to watch.

Per the CDC, when an antiviral is appropriate it works best started as soon as possible, ideally within the first 48 hours of symptoms, especially for people at higher risk. The doctor decides whether an antiviral is appropriate for you; it is not promised before the evaluation. To learn how they work, read the guide to Tamiflu (oseltamivir).

If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your online prescription to your pharmacy. If your case needs to be seen in person, she tells you where to go. See the guide to where to go when you are sick.

Care at home and when to go back to school or work

While you recover: rest, drink plenty of fluids and use the fever and pain medicines the doctor or pharmacist suggests. The CDC advises staying home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine and your symptoms are getting better. For children, see when to keep your child home. If you need a doctor's note, the doctor can provide one after a visit, if she considers it appropriate.

The flu shot

The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. We do not give vaccines by video: ask at your pharmacy, your CDT or your regular doctor. If you are not sure where to look for a CDT, read how to find a CDT.

Book your visit

If you have flu symptoms and it is not an emergency, book your visit. You see Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a Puerto Rico-licensed general practitioner, in Spanish or English, for adults and children of all ages. Every day, any time (Puerto Rico time). See the pricing.

How we care for you

We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.

Frequently asked questions

When is flu season in Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico's Department of Health publishes influenza updates at salud.pr.gov. It is worth staying alert throughout the year, not just in December and January.

When should I go to the ER for the flu?

For trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, dehydration, or a baby under 3 months with a fever. In children, also fast breathing, not drinking or not waking. Call 911 or go to an emergency room.

Will I get Tamiflu?

It is not promised before the evaluation. The doctor decides whether an antiviral is appropriate based on your symptoms, how long you have been sick and your risk of complications. It works best when started early.

Can I be treated for the flu by video?

If there are no emergency signs, the doctor can evaluate you by video, explain home care and decide whether a treatment is appropriate. If you need to be seen in person, she tells you where to go.

Do you give flu shots?

We do not give vaccines by video. Ask at your pharmacy, your CDT or your regular doctor.

Video visit

$79· Doctor visit