Indian Ocean Health Advice

Stay informed and be prepared

Réunion, Mauritius, the Maldives, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Mayotte and Zanzibar - visit the Indian Ocean islands departing from Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport. Each island has its specific features, both in terms of climate and healthcare conditions. You should therefore take certain precautions and check you have had the necessary vaccination before leaving, based on your destination.

Which vaccines do you need to visit Indian Ocean islands?

Whichever Indian Ocean island you have chosen for your holidays, you should make sure your basic vaccination is up to date: DTaP, hepatitis B and even hepatitis A for flights to Madagascar, the Seychelles, Mayotte, the Maldives and Zanzibar. Other vaccines (meningitis A and C and even rabies) are also required for some islands in this global region.

Réunion, Mauritius, the Seychelles and the Maldives do not require antimalarial medication. You should consider it for other destinations in the Indian Ocean.

Although Réunion and Mayotte are French overseas departments and regions (meaning the French Carte Vitale healthcare care is valid there), the others are not. Check that you have personal insurance to cover and repatriate you if you have problems during your trip.

Preventing infectious and parasitic diseases in the Indian Ocean region

Although certain Indian Ocean islands do not pose a specific health risk to tourists, you should remain vigilant wherever you go. Be aware of the quality of the water you drink to prevent any gastrointestinal issues (traveller's diarrhoea (TD) and cholera).
For some destinations, take a basic first aid kit, in case there are insufficient healthcare facilities there.

To protect yourself against chikungunya, which is present in some Indian Ocean regions, wear full-length (treated) clothing and apply a suitable repellent to exposed areas of skin. We also recommend you use a treated mosquito net.

To prevent certain parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia), make sure you don't bathe in murky or stagnant water (especially in Madagascar).