Sub Saharan Africa

Medical facilities are basic and limited on all three islands, and most are private.  You should be aware that electricity and water supplies are subject to frequent interruptions, which can affect hospitals and other public services. Medicines and food may not have been safely stored.

Malaria and cholera are common to Comoros, with malaria affecting all three islands.

 

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Comoros you should seek immediate medical attention.

 

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that less than 200 adults aged 15 or over in Comoros were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at less than 0.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Comoros and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

 

For more general information see Travel Health.