Travel health information for Thailand

The vaccines recommended for Thailand

No vaccinations are mandatory to go to Thailand even COVID-19 vaccination but some are recommended, especially recommended if your stay i the country is long. Anyway, before leaving, ask your doctor at least 2 months before departure to have enough time to get vaccines and boosters. The vaccines below are just here for information and can not replace doctor advice. In Thailand, big cities have fully equipped hospitals and competent medical staff

• Hepathite B and hepathite C

  This vaccinations are recommended if you are not already immune.

• Repevax or Boostrixtetra, Revaxis

  (tetanus, rabies, polio, diphtheria ...) to do if you stay in rural areas for over than a month and you are not up to date on your vaccinations.

• Japanese encephalitis

  Vaccination is recommended for any stay longer than a month in rural areas.

• Pentavac, Tetravac

  You can add to the list of vaccinations for children.

But check with your doctor or go to an international health and vaccinations center to be sure to have updated information.

Diseases in Thailand

• Malaria

  The risk only exists in a small part of the country, mainly the north and the region known as the ''Golden Triangle'' near the border with Lao and Myanmar and the region along the Cambodian border also. In affected areas, contamination via mosquito bites essentially happens at night. Big cities are malaria-free. Ask your doctor, but if you're not in the exposed areas, it is unnecessary to anti-malarial drugs and suffer from the side effects (including hypersensitivity to UV) not always pleasant. In general, mosquitoes are a potential source of infections and diseases so protect yourself against them by using an anti-mosquito spray.

• Dengue

  Usually transmitted by mosquitoes (mostly during the day), it has approximately the same symptoms than influenza (fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, rash), but more violent including a very high fever. There is no vaccine and no treatment (although Sanofi have made much progress in developing a vaccine but is not on the market yet). In very rare cases it can progress to haemorrhagic fever, drugs like aspirin are not recommended. Dengue will block you in bed for 2-7 days. The risk of infection is highest from May to November during the raining season.

• Rabies

  There are a lot of stray dogs and cats in Thailand and arrbies is present in Thailand The virus had a recent surge, so it is recommended to stay away from D=dogs, cats, monkeys and other animals potentially carrying the disease. And in case of scratching or biting or even licking by one of those animals, it is essential you disinfect even with water and soap and quickly go to hospital to follow a protocol of injections. Even if you have made the choice to vaccinate because even vaccinated you will need to be injected after exposure to the disease. Take this risj very seriously because once the symptoms are declared, it is too late and the death of the patient is certain.

• Zika

  Transmitted by mosquitoes and sexually, this virus is mainly dangerous for pregnant women. Zika can cause baby malformations like microcephaly. Otherwise most people infected with Zika virus have no symptoms. Most Zika cases in Thailand were spotted in Bangkok in Sathorn district.

• Aids

  Aids is very present in Thailand and sexually transmitted diseases like hepatitis B too. Especially in rural areas. To avoid contamination, use condoms and do not make tattoos or piercings in Thailand.

Health precautiosn to tke in Thailand

• Protect yourself against mosquitoes

  Mosquitoes present a risk of contamination with diseases more or less annoying (dengue and malaria in particular and Zika also appeared in Thailand recenty). Dress with length clothes (sleeves and pants, ankle protection) at the evening and use repellents.

• Don't drink tap water

  Not even if the same ice in tourist areas are generally made with purified water (one recognizes them to their cylindrical shapes with a hole in the middle but this form is not absolute guarantee their purity). Buy and consume water in sealed bottles. Can also be used for brushing teeth. If you think you venture into very remote areas, take with you tablets to purify water (ask your pharmacist).

• Watch stray dogs

  They often carry rabies.

• Safe sex

  Use condoms for sexual relations

• Go to Thailand with a good travel insurance

  Before going on a trip to Thailand or elsewhere, it is imperative to check your travel insurance cover.Your Visa or Mastercard often contains travel insurance but it is often insufficient, so you must check. This is important because every year, there are tragedies of uninsured people who are victims of accidents and their families can not afford the medical expenses.

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.