Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended - including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.

• Hepatitis A

  Travel health advice relating to hepatitis A.

  Spread through consuming contaminated food and water or person to person through the faecal-oral route. Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation are poor.

  Last Updated: 6th Aug, 2014

• Hepatitis B

  Travel health advice relating to hepatitis B.

  Spread through infected blood and blood products, contaminated needles and medical instruments and sexual intercourse. Risk is higher for those at occupational risk, long stays or frequent travel, children (exposed through cuts and scratches) and individuals who may need, or request, surgical procedures abroad.

  Last Updated: 24th Sep, 2015

• Japanese Encephalitis

  Travel health advice relating to Japanese encephalitis.

  Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. This mosquito breeds in rice paddies and mainly bites between dusk and dawn. Risk is higher for long stay travellers to rural areas, particularly if unable to avoid mosquito bites.

  Last Updated: 9th Jun, 2015

• Rabies

  Travel health advice relating to rabies.

  Spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite, scratch or lick on broken skin. Particularly dogs and related species, but also bats. Risk is higher for those going to remote areas (who may not be able to promptly access appropriate treatment in the event of a bite), long stays, those at higher risk of contact with animals and bats, and children. Even when pre-exposure vaccine has been received, urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal or bat bite.

  Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016

• Tetanus

  Travel health advice relating to tetanus.

  Spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.

  Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016

• Typhoid

  Travel health advice relating to typhoid.

  Spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited.

  Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016

Yellow fever vaccination certificate required or travellers over 9 months of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited more than 12 hours through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.The certificate of yellow fever vaccination is valid for life in this country.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.

Precaution

• Malaria risk is low throughout the year in all areas. There has been a marked reduction in the number of cases reported in recent years with only imported cases reported during 2013.
• Malaria precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.
• See malaria map – additional information can be found by clicking on the Regional Information icon below the map.
• Low to no risk areas: antimalarials are not usually advised.
• If you have been travelling in a malarious area and develop a fever seek medical attention promptly. Remember malaria can develop even up to one year after exposure.

• Altitude and Travel
  This country has either areas with high altitude (2400m or more) or/and areas with very high altitude (3658m or more). Travellers who may go into areas of high altitude should take care to avoid ill effects of being at altitude including Acute Mountain Sickness, a potentially life-threatening condition.

• Dengue Fever
  A viral illness that is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. The mosquito that spreads dengue bites during the day and is more common in urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, severe joint, bone and muscular pain - hence its other name 'breakbone fever'. There is no vaccine and prevention is through avoidance of mosquito bites.

• Dengue Fever in Sri Lanka - published 1st Dec, 2014

• Dengue Fever in Sri Lanka (Update) - published 9th Apr, 2014

• Leptospirosis in Sri Lanka - published 16th Jan, 2013

• Rabies (Human) in Sri Lanka - published 26th Sep, 2012

• Dengue Fever in Sri Lanka - published 24th Apr, 2012