Travel Guide Reunion - Country Information

Coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Population: 787,584 (July 2006 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)
Languages: French (official), Creole widely used
Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)
Elevation: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m / highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Background Reunion: The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration, supplemented by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians, gave the island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost the island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route.

Summary of recommendations:All travelers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure.
Vaccinations:
Hepatitis A	Recommended for all travelers
Typhoid	Recommended for all travelers
Yellow fever	Required for all travelers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas
Hepatitis B	For travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months
Rabies	For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)	Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given
Tetanus-diphtheria	Revaccination recommended every 10 years