Comoros
Travel Destination – Comoros
The Union of the Comoros lies in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and East Africa and remains one of the world’s least-visited island nations, appealing to travellers seeking remote, unspoilt environments.
Grande Comore, the largest island, is home to the capital Moroni and Mount Karthala, an active volcano offering challenging hikes and wide views across the Indian Ocean. Mohéli is the most natural and least developed island, known for sea turtle nesting sites, coral reefs, and seasonal humpback whale migrations. Anjouan is more fertile and agricultural, with ylang-ylang and vanilla plantations, a historic fortified town, and rainforest waterfalls.
Healthcare facilities across the Comoros are limited, particularly outside major towns, so travellers should plan carefully in advance and ensure comprehensive travel insurance is in place before departure.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Securing an appointment with a travel doctor is the most important single step Australian travellers can take before visiting Comoros. A consultation at least six to eight weeks ahead of departure allows sufficient time for multi-dose vaccine courses to be completed, antimalarial chemoprophylaxis to be prescribed, and personalised advice to be provided based on the specific islands being visited and planned activities. The health risks and appropriate preparations for a trekking itinerary on Grande Comore and Mohéli differ significantly from those for a short resort-based stay, and a travel doctor will tailor recommendations accordingly.
Travellers with an imminent departure should nonetheless seek a consultation, as many key vaccines can be delivered on compressed schedules. Medicines, including over-the-counter products, should be brought from Australia, as pharmaceutical supplies in Comoros may be substandard, limited, or simply unavailable at destination. Medical evacuation may be necessary in the event of any significant illness or injury, and travel insurance is essential for this remote island location.
Insect avoidance
Several insect-borne illnesses are present in Comoros, including malaria and dengue fever, and reducing mosquito bite exposure is an important health priority throughout the trip. Malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquitoes feed from dusk to dawn, while Aedes mosquitoes, which spread dengue, are active primarily during daylight. Protection measures should therefore be maintained continuously across all hours of the day.
Covering exposed skin with loose, long-sleeved clothing and trousers is recommended when outdoors. Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin should be applied to uncovered skin and reapplied regularly, particularly after water exposure or perspiration. Staying and sleeping in screened or air-conditioned rooms is advisable, and a bed net should be used where sleeping quarters are exposed to outdoor air. Permethrin treatment of outer clothing provides further protection and is particularly worthwhile for travellers spending time in rural areas or basic island accommodation on Mohéli and Anjouan.
Food and water hygiene
Comorian cooking is an aromatic reflection of the islands' cultural layering, drawing on Indian Ocean seafood, coconut, breadfruit, cassava, and spices that once made these islands a valued stop for Arab and Portuguese traders. Making the most of local food requires sustained attention to hygiene throughout the stay to prevent gastroenteritis or other gastrointestinal illnesses.
Tap water across all three islands is not safe to consume. Bottled or filtered water should be used consistently, as tap water carries a genuine risk of causing illness. Ice should be avoided unless its source can be confirmed.
Thorough handwashing with soap before eating and after using the toilet, or use of alcohol-based sanitiser where facilities are not available, substantially reduces the risk of gastrointestinal illness. Freshly cooked food served hot is the safest choice, and raw or reheated dishes, as well as produce from informal vendors that cannot be peeled, should be approached cautiously.
Rabies prevention
Rabies is present in Comoros and is carried by dogs and other mammals. The disease is virtually always fatal once neurological symptoms appear, making prevention the only reliable strategy. Physical contact with any animal encountered during the visit should be avoided, whether stray dogs on the streets of Moroni, or bats in forested or cave environments. The availability of post-exposure treatment locally cannot be guaranteed.
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is worth considering for travellers undertaking extended stays, those venturing into more remote parts of the islands, and those whose activities bring them into closer proximity with wildlife.
Any animal contact resulting in a bite, scratch, or lick to broken skin requires immediate washing of the area with soap and running water and urgent medical assessment, regardless of vaccination history.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Comoros?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection acquired through contaminated food or water, causing a spectrum of illness from mild fatigue and nausea to prolonged jaundice and significant hepatic inflammation. Given the variable food and water safety conditions across the islands, particularly outside Moroni, the risk of exposure exists for most travellers regardless of where they eat or stay.
Vaccination is recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers to Comoros. The two-dose course offers long-lasting protection and is well-tolerated by most people. Discuss with your travel doctor to receive specific advice, check vaccination status and arrange vaccination if recommended.
Typhoid
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Caused by Salmonella Typhi, typhoid fever is contracted through ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium, producing a characteristic picture of sustained fever, headache, abdominal pain, and profound fatigue that can progress to serious systemic illness without treatment.
Vaccination is recommended for most travellers, particularly those planning to eat beyond controlled hotel environments, sample local market food, or spend time on the outer islands. Food and water hygiene remains important as an additional protective measure to vaccination.
Rabies
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Rabies is present in Comoros and is carried by dogs and other mammals. The disease is virtually always fatal once neurological symptoms appear, making prevention the only reliable strategy. Physical contact with any animal encountered during the visit should be avoided, whether stray dogs on the streets of Moroni, or bats in forested or cave environments. The availability of post-exposure treatment locally cannot be guaranteed.
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is worth considering for travellers undertaking extended stays, those venturing into more remote parts of the islands, and those whose activities bring them into closer proximity with wildlife.
Any animal contact resulting in a bite, scratch, or lick to broken skin requires immediate washing of the area with soap and running water and urgent medical assessment, regardless of vaccination history.
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious viral infection transmitted through the air, characterised by fever, cough, and a spreading rash. Cases are rising globally, including in Comoros, and all Australian travellers heading overseas should be fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine before departure. Those born during or since 1966 require confirmation of two documented doses. A travel doctor can review vaccination records and advise whether any doses are outstanding.
Polio
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Polio is a contagious viral illness spread through the faecal-oral route, with the capacity in some cases to cause irreversible paralysis.
Confirmation that polio vaccination is current is advisable before any international travel. Travellers who completed the childhood vaccination series may require an adult booster depending on their history and itinerary, and a travel doctor can assess whether this is indicated.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a bloodborne viral infection of the liver transmitted through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, including via unprotected sexual contact, non-sterile medical or dental procedures, and tattooing or piercing with contaminated instruments.
Hepatitis B can also be contracted through invasive medical or cosmetic procedures, and the limited capacity of the Comorian healthcare system to guarantee sterile equipment in all settings is a relevant consideration.
Vaccination for Hepatitis B is recommended for travellers who may be at risk through any of these routes, and a travel doctor can confirm whether vaccination history is complete.
Routine vaccinations
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Routine vaccinations help keep diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, polio, influenza, and COVID-19 at low levels in Australia, but exposure risk remains higher in overseas settings, including Comoros.
Travel to Comoros is a good opportunity to check that all standard immunisations are up to date. Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis should be reviewed, with a booster recommended if more than 10 years have passed since the last dose.
Influenza vaccination is recommended for all travellers aged six months and over, as influenza circulates year-round in tropical regions rather than seasonally as in Australia. COVID-19 vaccination should also be current in line with Australian public health guidance, including booster doses for older adults and those with relevant medical conditions.
A pre-travel health consultation can help identify any gaps and ensure vaccinations are appropriately updated before departure.
Comoros
Other health risks in Comoros
Malaria
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There is a high risk of malaria in Comoros throughout the year, with Plasmodium falciparum the predominant and dangerous species. Infection occurs through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes that are most active from dusk to dawn. The parasite invades red blood cells, producing high fever, chills, headache, nausea, and muscle aching, and without prompt treatment, falciparum malaria can progress rapidly to life-threatening complications. Resistance to the anti-malarial chloroquine exists in Comoros, so a travel doctor will select the most appropriate antimalarial on the basis of individual health history and itinerary. The full medication supply must be obtained in Australia before departure and carried for the entire trip.
Any fever developing during travel or within one year of return should be assessed as a medical urgency, with travel history clearly communicated to the treating team.
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis is one of the most frequently reported conditions among travellers visiting Comoros, typically caused by bacterial or viral contamination of food and water. Symptoms of diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping usually develop within one to three days of exposure.
Adequate fluid replacement, ideally using oral rehydration solutions, is the most important treatment measure for uncomplicated cases.
Medical assessment is warranted if symptoms are severe, prolonged, contain blood, or are accompanied by fever, and should not be delayed given the limited medical capacity available on the outer islands.
Dengue
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Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that are active throughout the day, causing sudden fever, severe headache, significant muscle and joint pain, and fatigue. In a small proportion of cases the illness progresses to more serious clinical disease.
No specific antiviral treatment is available for dengue condition, and daytime mosquito bite prevention is the primary protective measure.
Rabies
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Rabies is present in Comoros and is carried by dogs and other mammals. The disease is virtually always fatal once neurological symptoms appear, making prevention the only reliable strategy. Physical contact with any animal encountered during the visit should be avoided, whether stray dogs on the streets of Moroni, or bats in forested or cave environments. The availability of post-exposure treatment locally cannot be guaranteed.
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is worth considering for travellers undertaking extended stays, those venturing into more remote parts of the islands, and those whose activities bring them into closer proximity with wildlife.
Any animal contact resulting in a bite, scratch, or lick to broken skin requires immediate washing of the area with soap and running water and prompt medical assessment, regardless of vaccination history.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection of the lungs spread through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings. Persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss are characteristic features of active disease.
The risk to most short-stay visitors with limited contact with local communities is relatively low. However, travellers spending extended periods in Comoros, working in healthcare or community settings, or in prolonged close contact with local populations should discuss TB screening with their travel doctor before departure and after returning to Australia.
A persistent cough or unexplained illness developing after travel should be reported to a general practitioner with full disclosure of travel history.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Comoros is a popular and generally safe tourist destination, and violent crime against tourists is uncommon. Petty offences such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and theft from unlocked vehicles do occur, and travellers should take precautions in crowded markets, public beaches, and parks, keeping personal belongings including travel documents secured at all times. Displaying signs of wealth including expensive jewellery or watches increases the risk of opportunistic theft, and valuables should be kept out of sight.
Up to date safety information should be checked before departure.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Road safety is a major concern across all three islands in Comoros. Serious accidents occur, and emergency response capacity is limited, particularly outside Grande Comore. Roads are often in poor condition, and traffic rules are inconsistently followed. Travellers should use trusted taxis or drivers arranged through accommodation, wear seatbelts where available, and avoid driving at night.
Inter-island ferries can be unsafe due to overcrowding, poor maintenance, and limited safety equipment, so careful judgement is needed before boarding. Coastal swimming also carries risk from strong currents and drownings have been reported, so local advice should always be followed.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul travel to Comoros, particularly due to prolonged periods of sitting during flights.
Journeys from Australia typically involve multiple connections and can exceed 12 hours in total. Extended immobility may slow blood flow in the legs and increase the risk of clot formation in the deep veins.
Risk can be reduced by moving regularly during travel where possible, performing simple in-seat exercises such as calf contractions and ankle rotations, and staying well hydrated throughout the journey.
Travellers with additional risk factors should seek individual medical advice before departure. Risk factors of DVT include a previous history of the same, recent surgery, pregnancy, use of hormonal contraception or hormone replacement therapy, or significant overweight. Compression stockings may be recommended based on individual risk factors.