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.
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.
In addition to Yellow fever, some of the other mosquito borne diseases found in Brazil include denge, zika and malaria.
Travellers diarrhoea, giardia and dysentery are just some of the illnesses caused by contaminated food and water.
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.
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.
Read MoreCaused 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.
Read MoreThis mosquito born parasite occurs almost exclusively deep in the Amazon rainforest. The need for preventative medication should be discussed with one of our doctors.
Read MoreBest avoided by taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites, particularly during the daytime in urban areas.
Read MoreHepatitis A vaccination is usually recommended for travel to Brazil.
Read MoreA food and water borne disease, typhoid vaccination is often recommended.
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.
Read MoreObserve food and water safety precautions and carry a medication kit for self-treatment.
Read MoreInfluenza is one of the most common vaccine preventable illnesses in travellers. In tropical climates there is no 'flu season', risk being all year round.
Read MoreWe generally think of Malaria and Hepatitis when we travel overseas, however Measles is usually long forgotten in the preparation. In fact there have been a significant amount of cases brought back to Australia by overseas travellers who are generally unaware that they are at risk. This has long known
MPox (formerly Monkey Pox) remains a concern in many parts of the world including Australia. Thankfully the risk to most travellers remains low but this is a dynamic space. Travelers should avoid close contact with persons with symptoms consistent with MPox; observe hand and respiratory hygiene and safer-sex practices; and
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
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