Plan your trip
Health & safety
Vaccinations, malaria, water, sun, insurance and safety advice.
On this page 4 sections
Before you leave
- See a doctor or an international vaccination centre 4 to 6 weeks before departure.
- Update your routine vaccinations. Depending on your itinerary, other vaccines may be recommended (hepatitis, typhoid…). A yellow fever certificate may be required if you arrive from a country where it is present.
- Malaria is present in the Union of the Comoros and is spreading in Mayotte, where cases are once again being contracted locally: ask for advice on preventive treatment for both destinations.
- Take out travel insurance that covers medical repatriation: medical facilities are limited, especially on Mohéli and Anjouan.
Health update (October 2026): an mpox epidemic was
declared in the Union of the Comoros in January 2026, and cases have also been recorded in Mayotte. In Mayotte,
370 cases of malaria have been recorded since the start of the year, 79 of them contracted locally.
Protect yourself from mosquitoes, avoid close contact with people who are ill and see a
doctor before you leave.
Sources: Santé publique France, health surveillance bulletin for Mayotte, 12 October 2026; UNICEF Comoros, press release of 11 May 2026 (accessed 18/10/2026).
Once there
- Drink bottled or filtered water and wash your hands often.
- Protect yourself from mosquitoes (dengue, chikungunya, malaria): repellent, long clothing in the evening, a mosquito net.
- The sun is very strong: hat, sunscreen, plenty of water.
- In the sea, beware of currents and venomous fish: wear water shoes.
Safety
The archipelago is generally welcoming and petty crime remains limited, although precautions are needed in Mayotte, especially at night in certain neighbourhoods and on certain roads. Leave nothing visible in vehicles, avoid walking alone after dark and follow your hosts' advice.
Before you leave, read your foreign ministry's travel advice,
which is updated regularly.
Useful numbers
- Mayotte: 112 (European emergency number), 15 (ambulance, SAMU), 17 (police), 18 (fire brigade).
- Union of the Comoros: note down the numbers given by your accommodation and your embassy as soon as you arrive.
Content last updated: October 2026. This information is given for guidance only.