Solomon Islands
Travel Destination – Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands are a Pacific treasure, offering breathtaking beaches, vibrant coral reefs, lush rainforests, and authentic cultural experiences. World-class diving, traditional villages, great fishing, and historical sites await visitors to this archipelago of almost 1,000 islands, just a three-hour flight from Brisbane. Notable diving sites include WWII-era Japanese shipwrecks at Bonegi Beach and the expansive Marovo Lagoon, celebrated for its extraordinary marine life. The Western Province offers encounters with dolphins, turtles, and reef sharks, while inland highlights include hikes to Tenaru Falls and visits to historically significant sites such as Kennedy Island.
The Solomon Islands reward the adventurous traveller, but thorough health preparation before departure is essential to ensure you can make the most of every experience they have to offer.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to the Solomon Islands, it is strongly recommended that you consult a travel doctor. The country presents a range of health risks that require individual assessment, including malaria, which is widespread throughout the islands and for which preventive medication is recommended for most travellers. A travel health consultation provides an opportunity to review your vaccination history, discuss destination-specific vaccine recommendations, and obtain antimalarial medication tailored to your itinerary and personal health circumstances.
Ideally, you should schedule your appointment six to eight weeks before departure. Some vaccines require multiple doses administered over several weeks, while certain antimalarial medications need to be commenced before leaving Australia. However, if your departure date is approaching, a last-minute consultation can still be highly beneficial, as accelerated vaccination schedules are available for some immunisations.
It is also important to note that medical facilities outside Honiara may have limited access to medications, diagnostic services, and specialised medical equipment. For this reason, comprehensive travel insurance that includes cover for medical evacuation is strongly recommended.
Insect avoidance
Mosquito-borne illnesses are a significant health concern in the Solomon Islands. Malaria and dengue fever are widespread, and Zika virus is also present. As a result, preventing mosquito bites is one of the most important steps travellers can take to protect their health.
Apply an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to all exposed skin, and reapply it regularly, particularly after swimming or excessive sweating. Wear long-sleeved clothing, long trousers, and enclosed footwear whenever possible, especially during the evening and overnight hours when malaria-transmitting mosquitoes are most active. As the mosquitoes that spread dengue typically bite during the daytime, bite prevention measures should be maintained throughout the day as well.
Choose accommodation with effective mosquito screening or air-conditioning where possible. If these are unavailable, sleep under a permethrin-treated mosquito net. Treating clothing, footwear, and outdoor gear with permethrin can provide additional protection, particularly for travellers spending time in rural areas or undertaking outdoor activities.
If you are pregnant, or planning a pregnancy, discuss the risks associated with Zika virus with your doctor as early as possible when planning your trip.
Food and water hygiene
Solomon Islands cuisine is a simple and satisfying blend of fresh seafood, root vegetables such as taro and kumara, and tropical fruits, best enjoyed at local markets and coastal villages. To reduce the risk of gastroenteritis and other foodborne illnesses, maintaining good food and water hygiene throughout your stay is important.
Tap water in the Solomon Islands is often not safe to drink. Stick to bottled water or boil water before use to avoid waterborne illness. This also applies to ice in drinks, which may be made from untreated water. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating and after using the toilet, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser when handwashing facilities are unavailable.
Choose food that is freshly prepared, fully cooked, and served hot, and avoid raw or undercooked meat, fish, and shellfish. Fruit and vegetables are safest when freshly peeled. Travellers' diarrhoea, giardia, and dysentery are among the illnesses that can result from contaminated food and water, so consistent preventative precautions are important.
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 the Solomon Islands?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that is spread through contaminated food and water. Symptoms can include nausea, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). As tap water quality and food hygiene standards can vary in the Solomon Islands, particularly outside Honiara, travellers may be at risk of exposure.
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travellers to the Solomon Islands who have not previously been immunised. The vaccine is safe, well tolerated, and provides long-lasting protection when the full two-dose course is completed. As many Australians have not received both doses, a pre-travel health consultation is an ideal opportunity to review your vaccination history and arrange any outstanding vaccinations before departure.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi or Paratyphi and is typically acquired through the consumption of food or water contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms may include prolonged fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal upset. Serious complications can occur if the infection is left untreated.
Typhoid vaccination is recommended for most travellers to the Solomon Islands, particularly those visiting friends and relatives, staying for extended periods, or travelling to areas where sanitation and food hygiene standards may be limited. Protection generally lasts for three years before a booster dose is required.
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through airborne respiratory droplets. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic blotchy rash. Measles outbreaks continue to occur in many parts of the world, including the Pacific region, and the Solomon Islands has experienced periods of measles transmission in recent years.
To reduce the risk of infection, Australian travellers born during or since 1966 should ensure they have received two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine before departure. A pre-travel health consultation provides an opportunity to review your vaccination history and confirm that your measles protection is up to date.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a viral liver infection spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, including through unprotected sex, unsterile medical or dental procedures, tattooing or piercing with non-sterile equipment, or sharing needles. The Solomon Islands has a high rate of hepatitis B virus infection, and travellers should avoid contact with blood or bodily fluids, including avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse and ensuring that any tattooing, piercing, or medical and dental procedures are carried out with sterile equipment.
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for many unvaccinated travellers, particularly those staying for extended periods, working in health or community settings, or planning any activities that carry a higher risk of injury.
Routine vaccinations
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Travelling to the Solomon Islands is a timely opportunity to ensure all routine vaccinations are up to date. Prior to travel, all travellers should be current with age-appropriate routine vaccinations, which may include measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, influenza, COVID-19, and polio. Some adults may have incomplete protection, particularly for hepatitis B, measles, or tetanus, and a travel health consultation can identify any gaps.
Influenza circulates year-round in tropical climates without the seasonal pattern seen in Australia, and annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all travellers aged six months and over. COVID-19 booster vaccinations are recommended annually for those over 65 and six-monthly for those over 75. Those with underlying medical conditions may also benefit from booster doses.
A travel doctor can tailor all vaccination recommendations to your age, medical history, and planned activities in the Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands
Other health risks in the Solomon Islands
Malaria
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Malaria is one of the most significant health risks for travellers to the Solomon Islands. The disease is caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes, affecting the liver and red blood cells and causing symptoms such as high fever, chills, severe headache, and muscle aches.
A travel doctor can prescribe the most appropriate preventive antimalarial medication and advise on when to start and stop taking your tablets.
Without prompt treatment, malaria can become life-threatening. If you develop a fever either while travelling or up to four weeks after returning home, seek immediate medical attention and inform your doctor of your travel history.
Gastroenteritis
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Solomon Islands cuisine is a wonderful blend of fresh reef fish, coconut-based dishes, tropical root vegetables, and vibrant local market produce, very much worth exploring during your visit. That said, gastroenteritis is one of the most common health issues affecting travellers, caused by bacteria or viruses in contaminated food or water.
Symptoms typically include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps, developing within 24 to 72 hours of exposure. Tap water in the Solomon Islands should be treated before consumption. Caution is also required around ice in drinks. Stick to bottled or boiled water throughout your stay. Wash hands thoroughly before eating and after using the toilet, choose freshly prepared food served hot, and avoid raw or undercooked seafood and meat.
Staying well hydrated with oral rehydration fluids is the most important treatment for mild cases. Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe, contain blood, or do not improve within a few days.
Dengue
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Dengue fever is widespread in the Solomon Islands, with regular outbreaks occurring. Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes that bite during the day, causing fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and intense muscle and joint aches. In some cases it can progress to serious illness. There is no specific treatment, making prevention essential.
Consistent mosquito bite prevention throughout the day is the most effective protective measure against dengue. Measures involve using repellent, wearing long clothing, and staying in screened accommodation.
Zika virus
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Zika virus is present in the Solomon Islands. It is spread by daytime-biting mosquitoes and most people who are infected experience only mild symptoms, or none at all. Symptoms may include low-grade fever, rash, and joint pain.
Zika poses a serious risk during pregnancy, with infection linked to microcephaly (small head size) and other significant birth defects in unborn babies. Zika can also be transmitted sexually, in addition to through mosquito bites, and from mother to foetus during pregnancy. Pregnant travellers, or those planning to become pregnant, should seek specialist advice from a travel doctor at the very early planning stages of a trip to the Solomon Islands.
All travellers should follow Australian health guidelines regarding prevention of sexual transmission after returning from a Zika-risk area, even if they did not experience symptoms during travel. Men are advised to use condoms for a period of 3 months after travel and for women this figure is 2 months.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings. It most commonly affects the lungs and can cause symptoms such as a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.
The Solomon Islands is classified by the World Health Organization as a high-burden TB country, with transmission occurring throughout the population. Reported case rates are highest in Honiara, where population density and crowded living conditions can facilitate the spread of infection.
For most short-term travellers, the risk of acquiring TB is low. However, the risk increases for those spending extended periods in the country, working in healthcare or community settings, or living in close contact with local populations. Travellers in these higher-risk groups should discuss the need for TB screening before and after travel with their doctor.
Anyone who develops a persistent cough, unexplained fever, or other symptoms suggestive of TB after returning from the Solomon Islands should seek medical assessment promptly and ensure their travel history is disclosed.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Travellers to the Solomon Islands should take sensible security precautions, particularly in Honiara, where theft, robbery, and other serious crimes can occur. Keep accommodation secure, avoid displaying valuables, and limit walking alone after dark.
Political demonstrations and periods of civil unrest can occasionally occur, especially in Honiara. Avoid protests and large gatherings, and stay informed through local media and official travel advisories.
Unexploded World War II ordnance remains present in some areas of the Solomon Islands. Follow local advice when hiking, diving, or exploring unfamiliar locations.
Before departure and throughout your trip, check the Australian Government's Smartraveller website for the latest travel advice and ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical evacuation.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Flights over 4 hours from Australia to the Solomon Islands raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs when blood flow slows in the deep veins, most commonly in the legs, allowing clots to form. In rare cases a clot can travel to the lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
To reduce risk, move around regularly during flights, perform simple seated leg exercises such as ankle circles and calf raises, and stay well hydrated.
Travellers with additional risk factors, including a personal or family history of blood clots, recent surgery, pregnancy, use of the oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy, or obesity, should seek personalised advice from a travel doctor before departure. Depending on your level of risk, below-knee compression stockings or other measures may be recommended.