Keeping healthy when travelling
Before you travel
Check with your healthcare provider or travel doctor to see if you need any immunisations. Try to do this 6 to 8 weeks before you leave.
As a minimum, you should make sure that all your routine immunisations are up-to-date such as tetanus, measles, and polio vaccinations.
Diseases to be aware of when you travel
There are certain types of diseases to be aware of when you travel including diseases spread through:
- coughing and sneezing
- contaminated food, water or poo (faeces)
- sexual contact or blood and body fluids
- mosquito and other insect bites.
Diseases that are spread through coughing and sneezing
Some diseases that are spread through coughing and sneezing include:
Protect yourself and others
- Consider wearing a well-fitting mask when you are in close contact with others – particularly in crowded indoor spaces.
- Wash hands frequently and dry thoroughly. It can be useful to carry hand sanitiser in case you do not have access to soap, hot water and a clean towel.
- Do not share drinks.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
Measles
Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease spread through coughing and sneezing. It can cause severe problems, including brain swelling, chest infections, or death. Right now, there are measles outbreaks happening around the world. If you are travelling overseas make sure you are fully immunised against measles before you go. The measles vaccine is very effective at preventing measles.
Check the latest measles travel information and advice for your destination:
- List of destinations – Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (external link)
- Travel advisories by destination – Safe Travel (external link)
- Measles
About the Measles (MMR) vaccine
- If there is not enough time before you travel to complete the recommended 2 doses, having even one dose of the MMR vaccine before you leave Aotearoa New Zealand will significantly reduce your (or your child’s) risk of getting infected.
- It is best to have your vaccination at least 2 weeks before you travel, if possible.
- Babies under 12 months may also be able to be immunised for measles before travelling. Ask your healthcare provider if your pepi can have the MMR vaccine.
- You can get your MMR vaccine at your healthcare provider, or some local pharmacies.
Diseases spread by contaminated food, water or poo (faeces)
Diseases spread by contaminated food, water or poo include:
- typhoid
- polio
- hepatitis A
- cryptosporidium
- giardia
- gastroenteritis viruses.
These are spread by contact with an infected person's poo and can be spread by:
- not washing your hands properly
- contaminated food or water
- contaminated surfaces
- close personal contact with someone who has the virus including sexual contact.
Protect yourself and others
- Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating. It can be useful to carry hand sanitiser in case you do not have access to soap, hot water, and a clean towel.
- Only drink bottled water, or water that you know has been treated.
- Avoid high risk foods, such as undercooked meats, unpasteurised milk or cheese.
- Avoid raw vegetables and unpeeled fruit, unless you know these have been prepared safely, with clean water.
- If you are vomiting (throwing up) or have diarrhoea (runny poos), or have been caring for someone who has these symptoms, dispose safely, or clean, all soiled items and regularly wash your hands.
Polio
There are polio outbreaks in several countries overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends all travellers to polio-affected areas are fully vaccinated against polio.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative website has a current list of polio-infected countries
Outbreak countries - Global Polio Eradication Initiative (external link)
Diseases spread through sexual contact or blood and body fluids
Diseases spread through sexual content, blood or body fluids include:
Sexual and reproductive conditions
Burnett Foundation Website (external link)
Diseases spread by mosquitoes and other biting insects
Diseases spread by mosquitoes and other biting insects include:
- dengue
- zika virus
- malaria
- Japanese encephalitis
- Ross River virus
- Murray Valley encephalitis
- West Nile fever
- chikungunya
- yellow fever.
Dengue
Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. There is currently a dengue outbreak in Samoa. Dengue
West Nile fever
West Nile fever is also a viral infection spread by mosquitoes.
Information about mosquitoes and other insects
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes that carry malaria, West Nile fever or Japanese encephalitis are more active in the evening and at night. If you are travelling in an area that has these diseases, be careful at those times.
Mosquitoes that carry dengue, yellow fever or zika are more active in the daytime, are silent and prefer to bite the ankles.
Tsetse flies
Tsetse flies are large flies found in mid-continental Africa, particularly in vegetated areas. Their bite can cause sleeping sickness. Sleeping sickness symptoms include fatigue, high fever, headaches, and muscle aches.
Ticks
Ticks are common in a variety of climates, including warm, humid climates such as the Australian bush, as well as temperate climates or anywhere large mammals thrive. They can carry many diseases.
Related information
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) external link
When you sit still for long periods of time you increase your risk of blood clots (called deep vein thrombosis). Deep vein thrombosis is a particular risk for people travelling on long journeys.