Maldives Health And Safety Tips

Before you go...

Vaccinations

While vaccinations are not required for your trip to the Maldives, it's a good idea to get immunised for the following:

• diphtheria
• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• polio
• tetanus

You'll require a yellow fever and/or cholera immunization if you are arriving from an infected area. Please check with your travel agent if you're unsure that this applies.

Check Up

If you plan to go diving during your stay, we recommend that you undergo a medical check up before you leave.

As with any travel plans, check with your doctor to make sure you're in overall good health so you don't encounter any unpleasant surprises healthwise during your trip.

Make sure your medical insurance applies overseas and covers emergency expenses, or consider purchasing travel insurance.

You can include a basic medical kit in your luggage, but most resorts are well equipped to treat minor scrapes and injuries should they occur.

While you'll there...

Food And Beverages

Because of the high standards of the Maldives resorts, both in the quality of the food offered and the professionalism of their catering staff, they are generally safe places to dine. The only time you might be at risk is when eating at the numerous cafés and tea shops in Malé, although this is a very rare possibility.

As a general precaution, drink only bottled water during your visit.

General Precautions

Common health problems that can occur during trips to tropical climates include

• exhaustion
• heatstroke
• Insect bites
• motion sickness
• sunburn

Less common are

• diarrhoea
• fungal infections
• hepatitis
• malaria
• Dengue fever

If you're spending time in the water, beware of

• bites
• cuts
• stings

Maldives Medical Facilities

There are two hospitals in Malé, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGM) and the Abduarahman Don Kaleyfan Hospital (ADK). ADK accepts some insurance plans, but IGM doesn't. General, orthopedic and neurosurgery are available at these facilities, but there are no trauma units and they do not offer spinal surgery. Visitors requiring treatments not offered in the Maldives are evacuated to the nearest adequate medical facility in South East Asia.

Two recompression chambers are available on Bandos Island (15 minutes by speedboat from Malé) and Kuramathi (20 minutes by air taxi from Malé.)

On Safety...

The crime rate in the Maldives is extremely low, but you should conduct yourself with the same attention to personal safety as you would in any other location. Also be aware that thefts of valuables left unattended on beaches or in hotels does occur.

Additional Information...

For more information on food and water precautions and insect bite protection, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or read the World Health Organization Travel Publication.

For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization.