Prepare for the trip
Health Information for Oceania
With an area of 8 million square kilometers, Oceania is the smallest continent in size in the world. Covering all the land between Asia and America, this small continent is mainly made up of island states, which are further divided into four regions. Whether you are visiting Australia, Fiji, Hawaii or French Polynesia, it is essential to plan the best preventive care and the right actions to preserve your health.
Which vaccinations to go to Oceania?
Whether you are visiting the beautiful Sydney Bay or the sandy beaches of Wallis and Futuna, there is no mandatory vaccine to go to Oceania. A responsible traveler will still consider updating their boosters, including the most important ones:
- DTP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Poliomyelitis) ;
- Pertussis ;
- Measles (MMR) ;
- Hepatitis A ;
- Hepatitis B.
Only travelers from countries at risk (such as Africa and Asia) must be vaccinated against yellow fever.
It is also strongly recommended, but not mandatory, to be vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis, sometimes present in northern Australia and in some islands, especially in the case of a long stay of more than 2 weeks.
Finally, in the case of a long-term stay or for globe-trotters who frequently travel abroad, vaccination against typhoid fever is particularly recommended. It is mainly prevalent in the small islands of Oceania.
Preventing infectious and parasitic diseases in Oceania
Oceania is a relatively secure continent that has not experienced deadly tropical epidemics for decades. The main risks concern poisonous animals, especially in Australia, and the infectious diseases brought by the mosquito.
Thus, dengue is present in some island states of Oceania and in the Queensland region of Australia. However, the risk is practically non-existent for the traveler, as only a small number of cases occur each year.
However, countries of Oceania are part of the malaria-affected area, one of the diseases with the highest number of victims in the world. If symptoms occur during your stay, contact a doctor immediately.
To protect yourself from malaria and dengue, it is strongly recommended to take a preventive treatment, carry mosquito repellent and invest in a mosquito net. Malaria cases in Oceania are still less frequent than in other parts of the world.
Then, there are animals that you will have to watch out for. In Australia mainly but also in other island states of Oceania, some animals are venomous, with sometimes fatal repercussions for the human organism.
The presence of stonefish has also been detected in Australia. The poison contained in its venom paralyzes and can lead to drowning: it is therefore important to wear specially-adapted protective shoes during your bathing.
They can be dangerous for another reason: the water may contain schistosomes, flat worms responsible for eczematous eruptions on the skin. To protect yourself, avoid contact with suspicious waters.