Travel Insurance Montserrat

Dental care

Travellers to Montserrat needing dental care will need to use private practice dental surgerys, however these are only accessible at the weekends and in the evenings.

Medication Availability

There are 2 pharmacies on the island, including Lee’s Pharmacy. These are both equipped and supplied by The Eastern Caribbean Drug Service. As there are only two pharmacies on the island, it is advised to pack a medical kit, which could include paracetamol, plasters, bandages, diarrhoea tablets, antiseptic wipes, cotton wool, and mosquito wipes.

Lee’s Pharmacy

Address: Brades Main Road, Brades, Montserrat

Tel: 664-491-3444

If you are taking any medicines before you leave for Montserrat, make sure you have enough to cover you stay, as they could be very hard to get hold of once on the island.

Blood supplies

Medical facilities

Hospitals and Health Centres on The Island:

St. John’s Hospital - Includes a 24 hour emergency department which offers standard health care facilities. It can hold up to 30 beds. More important and serious medical issues may require to be transported by air to another local island, usually Antigua and Saint Kitts, where the patient can get the treatment needed, which may be unavailable in Montserrat.

Tel: (664) 491-5218, 491-2843, 491-2836, 491-2802.

Cudjoe Head Clinic - offers outpatient clinic Tel: (664) 491-5258

Salem Clinic - offers outpatient clinic - Tel: (664) 491-5256

St. Peter’s Clinic - offers outpatient clinic - Tel: (664) 491-5436

Mental Health Clinic - offers outpatient mental health clinic - Tel: (664) 491-3879

Physicians:

Dr. Ronnie Cooper - Tel: 664/491-6419

Dr. Franklin Perkins - Tel: 664/491-2823

Emergency Services:

Fire - 911

Police - 999

General caution

It is advised that you do not eat any fruit and vegetables without them being cooked or peeled. Always drink bottled water rather than water the has come from the tap or well. This is the same with ice. Only use ice that has been made from bottled water.

Specific concerns

Immunization

When travelling to Montserrat, you should be up-to-date with your routine jabs including MMR, Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria and your yearly flu jab. It is also advised to be vaccinated against Rabies, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, preferably 4-6 weeks before you are due to travel. It is always best to check with your GP to make sure you are up-to-date with your vaccinations, and to see whether or not they can recommend any other vaccinations to have that might be applicable to the country's present disease risk situation.

Travellers from areas with a risk of Yellow Fever are required to have the Yellow Fever vaccination before entering Montserrat.

Disease risk summary

Dengue Fever - There is a slight risk of Dengue Fever in Montserrat. It was reported that in 2011, there were three cases of Dengue Fever. The disease is passed on to humans through mosquito bites and is typically passed on in more urbanised areas. Joint and muscle pains, headaches and fever are symptoms of the disease. You should take mosquito prevention methods when travelling to Montserrat, such as wearing mosquito repellent spray, using repellant wipes and wristbands, and covering up with light and baggy clothing. If you believe that you have some of these symptoms after being in Montserrat, then it is imperative that you seek medical attention. Make sure that you have adequate travel insurance to make sure that you are covered for any medical attention needed whilst abroad.

Schistosomiasis - There is a slight risk of Schistosomiasis in Montserrat. The parasitic disease is passed onto humans through the contact with fresh water, such as lakes, ponds and streams. The parasite infects the human by getting into the skin. Symptoms of the disease are not always noticeable at first, however once found, it can be treated by taking medicine for a brief time period. Symptoms of the disease can include high fevers, coughing, muscle pain, red rashes, and diarrhoea.

Chikungunya Fever - Some cases of Chikungunya Fever, which is transported by mosquitos, have been confirmed across Montserrat. It’s numbers in the region are slowly increasing and is more common in the rainy seasons. Fever, nausea, rashes and muscle pains are just some of the symptoms that have been linked to Chikungunya Fever. Although serious problems of Chikungunya Fever are uncommon, the symptoms can last for a few days. In order to help prevent being bitten by mosquitos whilst being in Montserrat, it is advised that you wear insect repellant. These can be in forms of, repellant creams, wipes, wristbands, sprays etc. Wearing clothes that cover your skin, especially loose fitting clothing, can also help prevent you from being bitten.

Entry requirements

There are no health entry requirement when travelling into Montserrat, except for travellers coming from a country that has recently suffered from an epidemic of yellow fever, small pox, or cholera.