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Travel health information for Thailand
General health information
When planning a trip to Thailand, the first thing to check regarding your health is your travel insurance. You may already have travel health cover through your Mastercard, Visa or American Express credit card, but is it suitable and sufficient? Do you know exactly what it covers? Check carefully and, if necessary, take out a specific policy for the duration of your trip. Beyond that, there are recommended vaccines and health risks to be aware of.
Recommended vaccines for Thailand
No vaccination is mandatory to enter Thailand and there are no more COVID-19 restrictions: neither proof of vaccination nor a negative test has been required since October 1, 2022. Some vaccines are recommended, especially for longer stays. In any case, see your doctor or a travel clinic at least 2 months before departure, to leave enough time for vaccines and boosters. The vaccines below are listed for information only and do not replace medical advice. In Thailand, the big cities have well-equipped hospitals and competent medical staff.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B
These vaccinations are recommended if you are not already immune.Tetanus, diphtheria, polio and rabies
Make sure your routine vaccinations (tetanus, diphtheria, polio) are up to date. Rabies vaccination is advisable if you stay in rural areas for more than a month or are likely to be in contact with animals.Japanese encephalitis
Vaccination is recommended for any stay longer than a month in rural areas.Childhood vaccinations
Children should be up to date with their routine vaccinations (including measles and whooping cough); some vaccines depend on age, so ask your doctor.
Check with your doctor or a travel health clinic to make sure you have up-to-date information. For detailed and regularly updated recommendations, see the CDC Travelers' Health page for Thailand.
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Diseases in Thailand
Malaria
The risk only concerns a small part of the country, mainly the north and the so-called “Golden Triangle” near the borders with Laos and Myanmar, as well as the area along the Cambodian border. In affected areas, transmission occurs mainly through mosquito bites at night. Big cities are malaria-free. Ask your doctor, but if you are not going to risk areas, there is no need to take antimalarial drugs and put up with their sometimes unpleasant side effects (such as sensitivity to sunlight). More generally, mosquitoes can transmit various infections and diseases, so protect yourself with mosquito repellent.Dengue
Mainly transmitted by mosquitoes (mostly during the day), dengue has roughly the same symptoms as flu (fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, rash), but more severe, with a very high fever in particular. There is no specific treatment. A vaccine (Qdenga) is now approved in several countries – ask your doctor whether it is appropriate for you. In very rare cases, dengue can develop into a hemorrhagic form, so drugs such as aspirin must be avoided. Dengue will usually keep you in bed for 2 to 7 days. The risk of infection is highest from May to November, during the rainy season.Rabies
There are many stray dogs and cats in Thailand, and rabies is present in the country – there has even been a recent upsurge. It is therefore recommended to keep away from dogs, cats, monkeys and other animals that may carry the disease. If you are scratched, bitten or even licked by one of these animals, immediately clean the wound with soap and water and go to a hospital as soon as possible for a course of injections. This applies even if you have been vaccinated, as you will still need injections after exposure. Take this risk very seriously: once symptoms appear, it is too late and the disease is almost always fatal.Zika virus
Transmitted by mosquitoes and sexually, the Zika virus is mainly dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause birth defects such as microcephaly. Otherwise, most infected people have no symptoms. Most Zika cases in Thailand have been reported in Bangkok, particularly in the Sathorn district.HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is still widespread in Thailand, as are other sexually transmitted diseases such as hepatitis B, especially in rural areas and the nightlife scene. Use condoms (they are sold in every 7-Eleven) and avoid getting tattoos or piercings.
Health precautions to take in Thailand
Protect yourself against mosquitoes
Mosquitoes can transmit diseases of varying severity (dengue and malaria in particular, and more recently Zika). Wear long, covering clothes (long sleeves and trousers, ankles covered) and use repellent. Protect yourself during the day too, as day-biting mosquitoes are often the most dangerous!Don't drink tap water
Not even ice cubes, although in tourist areas they are generally made with purified water (you can recognize them by their cylindrical shape with a hole in the middle, but this is no absolute guarantee). Buy and drink water in sealed bottles only, and use it to brush your teeth too if you don't want to take any risks. If you are going to very remote areas, take water purification tablets with you (ask your pharmacist).Beware of stray dogs
They can carry rabies (see above).Practice safe sex
Always use condoms, as HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are relatively common.Travel to Thailand with good travel insurance
Before leaving for Thailand or anywhere else, it is essential to check your travel insurance cover. Your Visa or Mastercard often includes travel insurance, but it is often insufficient, so check carefully. This matters: every year, there are tragic cases of uninsured travelers who have accidents and whose families cannot afford the medical bills.
I give you this information for guidance and do my best to keep it up-to-date but it does not replace the consultation of a medical expert.
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