Advice for All Destinations
The risks to health whilst travelling will vary between individuals and many issues need to be taken into account, e.g. activities abroad, length of stay and general health of the traveller. It is recommended that you consult with your General Practitioner or Practice Nurse 6-8 weeks in advance of travel. They will assess your particular health risks before recommending vaccines and /or antimalarial tablets. This is also a good opportunity to discuss important travel health issues including safe food and water, accidents, sun exposure and insect bites. Many of the problems experienced by travellers cannot be prevented by vaccinations and other preventive measures need to be taken.
Measles occurs worldwide and is common in developing countries. The pre-travel consultation is a good opportunity to check that you are immune, either by previous immunisation or natural measles infection.
Ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including repatriation.
A worldwide list of clinics, run by members of the International Society of Travel Medicine is available on the ISTM website.
Immunisation
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.
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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
Malaria
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.
Precaution
- Malaria not normally present unless the illness was contracted abroad.
In The News
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Measles in the United Kingdom (Wales) - published 4th Oct, 2016
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Cryptosporidiosis in UK - published 31st Aug, 2016
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Measles in the United Kingdom (England) - published 9th Aug, 2016
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fitfortravel Maintenance - published 18th Jul, 2016
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Health Regulations for Hajj 2016 (1437H) in Saudi Arabia - published 11th Jul, 2016
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Yellow Fever Certificates Valid for Life - published 11th Jul, 2016
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Rio 2016 Olympics/Paralympics Games Brazil - published 17th May, 2016
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Measles in the United Kingdom (England) - published 27th Apr, 2016
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World Malaria Day - 25 April 2016 - published 25th Apr, 2016
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Updated Advice Pages on fitfortravel - published 14th Mar, 2016
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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - published 4th Mar, 2016
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Zika Advice for Travellers (Update) - published 3rd Mar, 2016
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Zika Virus Infection - Situation Update and Latest Advice - published 2nd Feb, 2016
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Zika Virus Infection in the Caribbean and the Americas - published 20th Jan, 2016
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Mental Health and Travel - New Health Information Page - published 13th Nov, 2015
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28 September 2015 is World Rabies Day - published 22nd Sep, 2015
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Cyclospora Infection in the UK (Ex Mexico) (Update) - published 7th Aug, 2015
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Top Tips for Disabled and Less Mobile air Passengers - published 3rd Aug, 2015
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World Hepatitis Day July 28th 2015 - published 28th Jul, 2015
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Health Regulations for Hajj 2015 (1436AH) in Saudi Arabia - published 16th Jul, 2015
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Updated Malaria Advice for Malaysia and Nepal - published 14th Jul, 2015
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Travel Health Guidance for Schools Updated - published 25th May, 2015
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Scarlet Fever in United Kindgom (England) - published 16th Feb, 2015
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Updated Yellow Fever Certificate Requirements for South Africa - published 3rd Feb, 2015
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Ebola Virus Disease in the United Kingdom (Scotland ex Sierra Leone) - published 30th Dec, 2014
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Chikungunya Virus Infection in Returning UK Travellers - published 4th Dec, 2014
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International Measures to Stop Spread of Wild Poliovirus (Update) - published 20th Nov, 2014
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Revised Malaria Advice and Map for Indonesia - published 5th Nov, 2014
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World Rabies Day 2014 - published 16th Sep, 2014
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Health Conditions for Saudi Arabia Hajj 2014 - published 14th Aug, 2014
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WHO Declaration of Public Health Event of International Concern - published 11th Aug, 2014
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Revised Malaria Advice and Map for India - published 28th Jul, 2014
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Pertussis Vaccine Programme for Pregnant Women (Update) - published 16th Jul, 2014
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International Measures to Stop Spread of Polio (Update) - published 20th Jun, 2014
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New Resource Relating to MERS-CoV and Travel - published 9th Jun, 2014
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World Health Organisation Statement on International Spread of Poliovirus - published 28th May, 2014
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Scarlet Fever in the United Kingdom (Update) - published 27th May, 2014
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MERS-CoV Infection in the Arabian Peninsula (Update) - published 14th May, 2014
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Scarlet Fever in the United Kingdom (Update) - published 1st May, 2014
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Marked Increase in MERS-CoV Cases in April 2014 - published 30th Apr, 2014
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World Malaria Day 2014 - published 23rd Apr, 2014
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Scarlet Fever in the United Kingdom - published 16th Apr, 2014
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2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil - published 13th Mar, 2014
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Requirements of Polio Vaccination and Travellers to India - published 5th Feb, 2014
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Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - published 30th Jan, 2014
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Awareness Update on Avian Influenza (H7N9) in China - published 30th Jan, 2014
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New Look for fitfortravel - published 28th Jan, 2014
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Measles in the United Kingdom - published 28th Jan, 2014
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Yellow Fever Vaccine Shortage (Update) - published 30th Oct, 2013
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Yellow Fever Vaccine Shortage - published 20th Sep, 2013
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British Behaviour Abroad Report 2013 - published 24th Jul, 2013
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Meningococcal disease in men who have sex with men - published 16th Jul, 2013
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Measles in the United Kingdom (Update) - published 9th Jul, 2013
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Blood Donors Urged - Give Before You Go - published 14th Jun, 2013
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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus - Advice - published 11th Jun, 2013
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Measles in the United Kingdom (Update) - published 14th May, 2013
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Mumps in the United Kingdom (Update) - published 24th Apr, 2013
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World Malaria Day 2013 - published 22nd Apr, 2013
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Travel Health Guidance for Schools - published 11th Apr, 2013
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Measles in the United Kingdom (Update) - published 8th Apr, 2013
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Foreign Office Driving Abroad Safety Campaign - published 3rd Apr, 2013
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Measles in the United Kingdom - published 15th Mar, 2013
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Novel Coronavirus Infection in the United Kingdom - published 11th Feb, 2013
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Crimean-Congo Heamorrhagic Fever in United Kingdom - published 5th Oct, 2012
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Travel Advice for Hajj Pilgrims (Update) - published 3rd Oct, 2012
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Acute Respiratory Illness in the United Kingdom - published 25th Sep, 2012
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Rubella in United Kingdom - published 13th Sep, 2012
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Pertussis in the United Kingdom - published 16th Aug, 2012
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British Behaviour Abroad Report - published 19th Jul, 2012
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Travelling During Ramadan - published 13th Jul, 2012
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Pertussis in the United Kingdom - published 11th Jul, 2012
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Donate Blood this Summer - published 19th Jun, 2012
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Legionnaires' Disease in the UK (Edinburgh) - published 12th Jun, 2012
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Rabies (Human) in United Kingdom - published 29th May, 2012
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Measles in the United Kingdom (Update) - published 3rd May, 2012
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Mumps in the United Kingdom (England) - published 15th Mar, 2012
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Measles in the United Kingdom (Update) - published 13th Mar, 2012
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Measles in the United Kingdom - published 1st Mar, 2012
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Mumps in the United Kingdom (Scotland) - published 21st Feb, 2012