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Seychelles

East Africa · Africa · Physician brief

📝Draft — pending physician review
📝Draft — pending physician review. This brief was compiled from CDC, WHO, and EKRM/HealthyTravel sources (June 2026) and has not yet been verified by a clinician. Confirm specifics with a travel-medicine professional before relying on it.

Chikungunya outbreak

Seychelles is experiencing a chikungunya outbreak (CDC Level 2 alert, 2026). Chikungunya causes fever and often debilitating joint pain that can persist for months. All travelers should practice strict daytime mosquito-bite prevention; vaccination may be discussed for travelers at higher risk (see EKRM statement).

CDC Travel Health Notices ↗ · Updated 2026

Zika — precautions for pregnancy

Zika has been reported in the Seychelles. Because of the risk of birth defects, pregnant travelers should discuss their trip with a travel medicine specialist and use rigorous mosquito-bite prevention; couples planning pregnancy should follow current EKRM/BAG advice on post-travel precautions.

EKRM / HealthyTravel ↗ · Updated 2026

Yellow fever entry certificate

Seychelles has no yellow fever risk, but a valid YF vaccination certificate is required for travelers aged 1 year and older arriving from (or having transited through) a country with risk of YF transmission. Direct travel from Switzerland is not affected.

WHO / Seychelles entry requirements ↗ · Updated 2026

Malaria

None

Dengue

Moderate

Yellow fever

None

Chikungunya

High

Vaccines

VaccineRecommendationReference
Routine vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip — per the Swiss BAG schedule. These include:

BAG Impfplan
Chikungunya

Vaccination indicated during chikungunya outbreaks — an outbreak is currently ongoing (2026). May be considered for travelers at higher risk for severe disease (see EKRM statement).

—
Dengue

Qdenga® vaccination currently recommended only for travelers with documented prior dengue infection who will be exposed in a region with high dengue transmission.

—
Hepatitis A

Recommended for all travelers aged 1 year and older. Note for Swiss travelers: hepatitis A is not part of the routine Swiss BAG childhood schedule, so most adult travelers will need vaccination.

CDC Yellow Book
Hepatitis B

CDC recommends hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers of all ages. Routine in the Swiss BAG childhood schedule — younger travelers are usually already covered; older travelers can consider it per individual risk.

CDC Yellow Book
Rabies

Consider for long stays or higher individual risk (cycling/diving trips with land excursions, animal workers, young children). Overall risk is low and the islands are largely rabies-free, but care availability is limited.

CDC Yellow Book
Typhoid

Recommended for long-term travelers, those visiting friends and relatives, staying in rural areas or poor hygienic conditions, or with individual risk factors.

CDC Yellow Book

Disease-specific guidance

Malaria

None

No malaria risk. Seychelles is considered malaria-free; no antimalarial prophylaxis is needed. Mosquito-bite prevention is still worthwhile because of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

Yellow fever

None

No yellow fever risk in Seychelles. A YF vaccination certificate is required only for travelers aged ≥1 year arriving from, or having transited through, a YF-risk country. Direct travel from Switzerland is not affected.

Risk in country
None
Entry rule
Cert required if arriving from YF-risk country
From Switzerland
Not affected

Dengue

Moderate

Dengue circulates in Seychelles with year-round transmission and seasonal peaks during the warm, rainy months. The Aedes mosquito vector bites during the day, so daytime bite prevention is the main protection for every traveler.

Distribution
Island-wide, incl. Mahé, Praslin, La Digue
Season
Year-round; warm/rainy peaks
Vector
Aedes — bites during daytime

Chikungunya

High

Chikungunya is a recurring threat in Seychelles, with an outbreak ongoing in 2026 (CDC Level 2). Same daytime Aedes vector as dengue, so the same bite-prevention measures apply. Joint pain can persist for months. Vaccination is considered in outbreak settings (see EKRM statement).

Status
Active outbreak (2026)
Vector
Aedes — bites during daytime
Symptoms
Fever + prolonged joint pain

General prevention

Food & water

Tap water in the main tourist areas and hotels is generally safe. In more remote areas or if uncertain, prefer bottled or filtered water. Standard food hygiene reduces the risk of traveler's diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid.

Mosquito protection

No malaria risk in Seychelles. Daytime mosquito-bite prevention (DEET or picaridin repellent, long sleeves) is the key measure because of dengue, recurring chikungunya outbreaks, and reported Zika activity — all spread by Aedes mosquitoes that bite during the day. Avoid swimming in fresh water (leptospirosis).

Sources

Based on CDC Travelers’ Health, CDC Yellow Book, and the Swiss Federal Vaccination Schedule (BAG). Always verify current recommendations before travel.

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This brief is for informational purposes and does not replace personalized medical advice.
Consult a travel medicine specialist 4–8 weeks before departure.