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, booking an appointment with a travel doctor is strongly recommended. The Solomon Islands present a range of health risks that require personalised assessment, including prevention for malaria, which is widespread throughout the country and requires preventive medication for most travellers. A travel health consultation allows your doctor to review your vaccination history, recommend destination-specific immunisations, and prescribe antimalarial medication suited to your itinerary and health circumstances.
Ideally, schedule your appointment six to eight weeks before departure. Some vaccines require multiple doses spread over several weeks, and certain antimalarial medications need to be started before you leave Australia. If your trip is approaching sooner, a last-minute consultation is still worthwhile with accelerated vaccinations available.
It is also worth considering that medical facilities and clinics outside of Honiara are limited in terms of medications and medical equipment. Comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is strongly recommended.
Insect avoidance
Malaria and dengue fever are widespread in the Solomon Islands. Zika virus is also present. Mosquitoes are the primary health threat for travellers, and avoiding bites is one of the most important protective measures you can take throughout your trip.
Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to all exposed skin, and reapply regularly, especially after swimming or sweating. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, and closed footwear when outdoors, particularly from dusk onwards when malaria-carrying mosquitoes are most active. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes bite during the day, so protection is important at all hours. Ensure your accommodation is insect-proof, and use a permethrin-treated mosquito net if sleeping in rooms without screens or air-conditioning. Treating clothing and gear with permethrin provides an additional layer of protection, particularly for those spending time in rural or outdoor settings. If you are pregnant, discuss the risks of Zika virus with your doctor at the very early planning stages.
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 liver infection spread through contaminated food and water, causing symptoms including nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain, and yellowing of the eyes and skin. Given that tap water in the Solomon Islands is not safe to drink and food hygiene standards vary widely outside of Honiara, the risk of exposure is real for travellers.
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers to the Solomon Islands. The vaccine is well tolerated, provides long-lasting protection, and is available as a two-dose course. Many Australians have not completed this course, so a travel health consultation is a good opportunity to check your vaccination history and receive any outstanding doses before departure.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi, contracted through food or water contaminated with the bacteria. It causes sustained high fever, headache, fatigue, and abdominal pain, and can lead to serious complications without treatment.
Vaccination is recommended for most travellers to the Solomon Islands, particularly those visiting friends and relatives, travelling for extended periods, or spending time in areas where sanitation and food hygiene may be limited. The vaccine provides protection for two to three years depending on the formulation. Food and water hygiene remain important even for vaccinated travellers, as the vaccine does not provide complete protection in all cases.
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious viral illness spread through the air, causing fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic blotchy rash. Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. The Solomon Islands has experienced measles transmission in the past, and vaccination coverage across the country is not uniformly high. Australian travellers born during or since 1966 need to have received two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine before travel. A travel doctor can review your vaccination records and confirm whether your protection is current.
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, polio and potentially hepatitis B depending on risk factors. These diseases circulate more widely in the Solomon Islands than in Australia, where high vaccination coverage keeps transmission low. Some adults may have incomplete protection, particularly for hepatitis B, pertussis, or polio, 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 in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook, annually for those over 65 and six-monthly for those over 75.
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. All areas of the Solomon Islands carry a risk of malaria throughout the year. The disease is caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes at night, affecting the liver and red blood cells and causing symptoms such as high fever, chills, severe headache, and muscle aches.
Without prompt treatment, malaria can become life-threatening. Drug-resistant malaria is present in all malarious areas of the Solomon Islands, meaning that choosing the correct preventive medication matters. A travel doctor can prescribe the most appropriate antimalarial and advise on when to start and how long to continue after leaving.
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 is not safe to drink, and this applies to ice in drinks as well. 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, joint pain, and red eyes.
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.
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.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection spread through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings, primarily affecting the lungs and causing a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
The Solomon Islands is listed as a high-burden TB country by the World Health Organization, with an estimated incidence rate of 55 cases per 100,000 people. Case notification rates are highest in Honiara, where population density and close living conditions contribute to transmission.
The risk to most short-term holiday travellers is low, but those staying for extended periods, working in healthcare or community settings, or living in close contact with local populations face a meaningfully higher risk of exposure. Travellers in higher-risk categories should discuss TB screening before and after travel with their doctor. Anyone who develops a persistent unexplained cough or fever after returning from the Solomon Islands should seek medical review promptly and mention their travel history.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Petty crime, break-ins, robbery, and more serious offences including sexual assault can occur. Keep accommodation locked and vehicle doors and windows closed, even while driving. Avoid walking alone at night, particularly in and around central Honiara and the harbour area, and keep valuables out of sight at all times.
Political unrest, demonstrations, and protests can occur in Honiara, including during parliamentary sittings or periods of political uncertainty. Travellers should avoid any gatherings or protests and monitor local news for developments.
It is also worth noting that some parts of the Solomon Islands, including central Honiara, still contain unexploded ordnance from World War II. Take care and seek local advice when hiking, boating, or diving in affected areas.
Always check the Australian Government's Smartraveller website for the latest advice before and during your trip, and ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Flights from Australia to the Solomon Islands involve several hours of limited movement, and any extended period of sitting, whether on an aircraft or during road or boat travel between islands, can 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, who may recommend below-knee compression stockings.