Health

Specific Issues in French Polynesia

Health hazards in French Polynesia are generally environmental: dehydration, prickly heat, heatstroke, fungal infections, sunburn, diarrhea, food poisoning, coral cuts, and occasionally dengue fever.

Tap water is generally safe to drink on developed islands like Tahiti, but drink the readily available bottled water in outlying islands, especially if the only water available is well water. If you don't have access to bottled water and aren't certain, however, the usual tricks of boiling or water-purifying tablets work well. Fruits and vegetables should be peeled, and be careful of uncooked meat.

Wash your hands frequently, and treat cuts with extra caution: a small skin puncture can quickly turn septic in the tropics. Wash the injury well, and treat with an antiseptic ointment or iodine. Keep the wound as dry as possible (so no bandages or Band-Aids). If the wound is starting to spread, or if it isn't healing, see a doctor.

With mosquitoes, the simplest solution is to keep as much skin covered as possible with long-sleeved shirts and trousers. Avoid perfumes or scented lotions, use mosquito repellant containing DEET, and use a mosquito net or coil when sleeping, if possible.

Health care in French Polynesia is generally of a good standard, but the remote islands can pose a problem, just because of their locality. Make certain that your insurance covers emergency transports, keep your receipts, and expect to pay cash for most treatments.

Over-the-Counter Remedies

Pharmacies in French Polynesia carry most of the over-the-counter medications that you will need for headaches, upset stomachs, minor aches and pains, and cuts and bruises. They also provide a selection of basic cosmetic and health care products (like shampoo and toothpaste), sunscreen, and mosquito repellant and coils. Make certain you stock up on anything you need before traveling to the outer islands, as supplies are more difficult to come by.

Shots & Medications

There are no required vaccinations to enter French Polynesia, but typhoid fever, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B are recommended, and an International Certificate of Vaccination is required for travelers over one year old who are entering from a yellow fever–infected area of the world. Generally, dengue fever, a viral disease spread by mosquitoes, can pose an occasional threat, especially to pregnant women or children. The disease tends to run in outbreaks, so check the CDC's Health Information for International Travel, or the World Health Organization's Web site for up-to-date information.

Health Warnings

National Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. 877/394–8747 international travelers' health line. www.cdc.gov/travel.

World Health Organization. www.who.int.