Oceania Health Advice

Stay informed and be prepared for your stay in Oceania

Fly to Oceania in complete safety

Are you traveling to one of the Oceania countries from Lyon?
Discover all our recommendations to anticipate your travel!

With a surface area of 8 million km², Oceania is smaller than any of the world's continents. Encompassing all land between Asia and the Americas, this small continental region is mainly composed of island states, which are themselves divided into four regions. Whether you are visiting Australia, the Fiji islands, New-Caledonia or French Polynesia, it is vital to arrange the best preventive care and know what to do to protect your health.

Which vaccines do you need to visit Oceania?

Whether you are going to visit the magnificent Sydney Harbour or the fine sandy beaches of Wallis and Futuna, there are no mandatory vaccines for visiting Oceania.

However, all responsible travellers will still make sure they are up to date with the most important vaccinations, in particular:

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis (DTP)
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A (in case of prolonged stay)
Tuberculosis (BCG) (Present in the Greater Antilles)
Pertussis
Meningitis and Haemophilus B (for newborns)

Only travellers from at-risk countries (such as African and Asian countries) have to be vaccinated against yellow fever.

It is then strongly recommended, but not mandatory, to carry out these two vaccines if you travel in Australia or in the small islands of Oceans more than 2 weeks:

Japanese encephalitis
Typhoid fever

To learn more about vaccinations, we invite you to learn more on the french administration website by clicking on the link below.

Vaccinations for travel

Preventing infectious and parasitic diseases in Oceania

Oceania is quite a safe region that has not experienced any fatal tropical epidemics for several decades. The main risks are infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes.

Dengue is present in some island states in Oceania and in the Queensland region of Australia. The risk is, however, extremely low for travellers, with very few cases recorded every year.
However, countries in Oceania are within the area affected by malaria, one of the most widespread diseases in the world even if less frequent than in other regions of the world. If you experience symptoms during your trip, contact your doctor immediately.

To protect yourself against malaria and dengue, it is highly recommended to :

Take preventive medication
Wear mosquito repellent
Invest in a mosquito net.

Dangerous animals

You should also be wary of animals. This is because, mainly in Australia but also in other island states in Oceania, certain animals are venomous, and can sometimes have fatal consequences for humans.

Stonefish have been detected in Australia. The poison contained in stonefish venom causes paralysis and can result in drowning. It is therefore important to wear suitable protective shoes when swimming.

Swimming can also be dangerous for another reason: water can contain schistosoma, a flatworm responsible for causing an itchy, inflamed rash on the skin. To protect yourself, avoid swimming in murky water.

Australia is home to more than 140 species of snake, including 20 venomous species. But don't worry, snakes are afraid of humans, they won't attack you, you have to walk on them to dare them to be interested in you.

Last advice: Avoid driving at night in the Australian countryside, you risk colliding with kangaroos.