Kiribati
Risk / Health Info for Kiribati
For information about the vaccinations you need to go to Kiribati, your healthcare adviser at Canadian Travel Clinics can advise you.
Mosquitoes on Kiribati can carry chikungunya, dengue fever and Zika so avoid getting bitten by covering up and using a reliable insect repellent.
Medical facilities at Tarawa are limited, and elsewhere clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners. For serious illness or accident, evacuation to New Zealand or Australia may be necessary, which can be very expensive. Remember you need travel insurance whenever you leave Canada. Before you leave the country, check with your provincial or territorial health authority for more information.
Opt for boiled or bottled water and don’t eat food if you can’t peel it, boil it or cook it, so you can reduce the chance of getting “travellers’ diarrhea.” It is best avoid shellfish or fish caught in the lagoon on Tarawa.
- Chikungunya virus in Kiribati
- Cases of Chikungunya virus have been reported in Kiribati. It is spread by day-biting mosquitoes and you can guard against infection by covering up and using mosquito repellents. Infection results in joint pains, fever, rash and headache. It clears up after a few days, but some patients are left with swollen and painful joints for weeks or even years afterwards.
- Dengue fever in Kiribati
- There have been cases of the mosquito-borne virus dengue fever in Kiribati. Dengue fever is also known as breakbone fever because of the severe bone, joint and muscular pains it causes, in addition to flu-like fever and headache. There is no vaccine for dengue fever. Avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents (50% DEET) and by wearing protective clothing. Sleeping with mosquito nets is also recommended.
- Zika in Kiribati
- Global Affairs Canada has issued a warning about the risk of contracting Zika in Kiribati. Zika is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes, and infection during pregnancy has been linked to birth defects. Women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant should take advice before travelling to Kiribati. Zika symptoms include rash, itch, mild fever, headache, red eyes, muscle and joint pains. Avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents (50% DEET) and by wearing protective clothing. Mosquito nets and air conditioning should be used when sleeping.
Recommended Vaccines for Kiribati
| Vaccine Name | Course |
|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | 2 Doses |
| Hepatitis A and B combined (adult) | 3 Doses |
| Hepatitis A and B combined (paediatric) | 2 Doses |
| Hepatitis A and typhoid (combined) | 1 Dose |
| Hepatitis A (paediatric) | 1 Dose |
| Hepatitis B | 3 Doses |
| Hepatitis B (paediatric) | 3 Doses |
| Typhoid | 1 Dose |
| Typhoid (oral) | 1 Dose |
| Yellow fever with certificate | 1 Dose |
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About Kiribati
The Pacific island group of Kiribati does not get many tourists because they are very humid, not well served by transport and the island’s government prefers to limit visitor numbers to protect the environment and the islanders’ way of life. Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and until that point it was known as the Gilbert Islands.
top Tips for travelling to Kiribati
The remnants of the Second World War battles fought in the skies above and water around Kiribati remain and there are guided tours that put Kiribati‘s part in the Second World War into context.