Brazil

This vast rapidly developing country boasts destinations such as Iguazu falls, exotic coastal cities, the Amazon jungle and the wetlands of the Pantanal. Each itinerary carries its own health risks.

The following information provides some broad and general guidelines about health risks and recommendations for travel to Brazil. This should not be taken as a substitute for a personal consultation with one of our travel health doctors, whose advice will be specific for you and your trip and may include some things not mentioned here.

  • Plan Head - Calendar/Itinerary?

    Six to eight weeks out from departure is a good time to have a travel health consultation. You may need blood tests to check immunity to diseases or need a course of vaccines like rabies for example, and this gives you plenty of time to get everything completed. If you are travelling sooner however it's not too late for an appointment, simply make one as soon as you can.

  • Mosquito's and Bugs

    In addition to Yellow fever, some of the other mosquito borne diseases found in Brazil include denge, zika and malaria.

  • Eating/Drinking

    Travellers diarrhoea, giardia and dysentery are just some of the illnesses caused by contaminated food and water.

  • Vaccine Recommendations

    Most travellers to Brazil are required to have a Yellow fever vaccine. As well as being up to date for routine childhood vaccines such as tetanus, measles and hepatitis B, the following vaccines are also often recommended – Hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies and influenza. Decisions regarding which are most appropriate depend on duration and nature of travel, itinerary, age and underlying medical conditions.

List of Common Health Issues

  • Yellow fever

    This is a very serious but rare mosquito borne disease and occurs in many areas of Brazil. Most travellers to Brazil require the vaccine- either for disease protection, prevention of international spread or for bureaucratic reasons. An internationally recognised certificate is issued as proof of vaccination and should be presented when requested at border crossings.

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  • Zika virus

    Caused by the same mosquito as dengue fever. Because of the potential effect on the unborn foetus, pregnant women should avoid travel to Brazil, and all women of childbearing age and/or their partner should seek specific advice before travel to this country.

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  • Malaria

    This mosquito born parasite occurs almost exclusively deep in the Amazon rainforest. The need for preventative medication should be discussed with one of our doctors.

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  • Dengue fever

    Best avoided by taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites, particularly during the daytime in urban areas.

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  • Hepatitis A

    Hepatitis A vaccination is usually recommended for travel to Brazil.

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  • Typhoid

    A food and water borne disease, typhoid vaccination is often recommended.

  • Rabies

    Avoid being bitten or scratched by any mammal. Consider pre-travel rabies vaccination (well before travel). Thoroughly rinse and disinfect any animal wound and seek prompt medical care for post exposure vaccination and wound care.

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  • Travellers’ diarrhoea

    Observe food and water safety precautions and carry a medication kit for self-treatment.

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  • Influenza

    Influenza is one of the most common vaccine preventable illnesses in travellers. In tropical climates there is no 'flu season', risk being all year round.

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Latest Health Alerts

  • COVID 19 (Coronavirus)

    March 29, 2020

    As there is no non-essential overseas travel at this time this article will simply remain as an information resource for COVID-19. See our main COVID-19 page for more detailed information. We hope to be able to inform our travelers once again after this crisis passes. The links below remain trustworthy

  • Sri Lanka – Dengue Fever

    January 9, 2020

    Over 48,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Sri Lanka since 1st October 2019, a significant increase in incidence. Travellers should observe strict mosquito avoidance measures, particularly during daylight hours.

  • Solomon Islands – proof of measles vaccination required

    December 19, 2019

    As a result of recent outbreaks of measles in various countries, the Solomon Islands' will be requiring arriving travellers from/via American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, or Tonga to show proof of measles vaccination, effective December 28th 2019. Vaccination needs to have been at least 15 days prior and