General Information
The information on these pages should be used to research health risks and to inform the pre-travel consultation.
Travellers should check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) country-specific travel advice page (where available) which provides information on travel entry requirements in addition to safety and security advice.
Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel. However, even if time is short, an appointment is still worthwhile. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities. For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended.
All travellers should ensure they have adequate travel health insurance.
A list of useful resources including advice on how to reduce the risk of certain health problems is available below.
Resources
Vaccine Recommendations
Details of vaccination recommendations and requirements are provided below.
All travellers
Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine.
Country-specific diphtheria recommendations are not provided here. Diphtheria tetanus and polio are combined in a single vaccine in the UK. Therefore, when a tetanus booster is recommended for travellers, diphtheria vaccine is also given. Should there be an outbreak of diphtheria in a country, diphtheria vaccination guidance will be provided.
Those who may be at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their work, lifestyle choice, or certain underlying health problems should be up to date with additional recommended vaccines. See details on the selective immunisation programmes and additional vaccines for individuals with underlying medical conditions at the bottom of the 'Complete routine immunisation schedule' document and the individual chapters of the 'Green Book' Immunisation against infectious disease for further details.
Certificate requirements
There are no certificate requirements under International Health Regulations.
Most travellers
The vaccines in this section are recommended for most travellers visiting this country. Information on these vaccines can be found by clicking on the blue arrow. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.
Tetanus
Tetanus is caused by a toxin released from Clostridium tetani bacteria and occurs worldwide. Tetanus bacteria are present in soil and manure and may be introduced through open wounds such as a puncture wound, burn or scratch.
Prevention
Travellers should thoroughly clean all wounds and seek medical attention for injuries such as animal bites/scratches, burns or wounds contaminated with soil.
Tetanus vaccination
- Travellers should have completed a tetanus vaccination course according to the UK schedule.
- If travelling to a country or area where medical facilities may be limited, a booster dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended if the last dose was more than ten years ago even if five doses of vaccine have been given previously.
Country-specific information on medical facilities may be found in the 'health' section of the FCDO foreign travel advice pages.
Tetanus in brief
Some travellers
The vaccines in this section are recommended for some travellers visiting this country. Information on when these vaccines should be considered can be found by clicking on the arrow. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.
Polio
Polio is caused by one of three types of polio virus and is transmitted by contaminated food and water. Previous infection with one type of polio virus does not protect against other types of the virus.
Polio in United Kingdom
This country has reported vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was detected in environmental sewage samples from Leeds, London and West Sussex during November to December 2024.
Prevention
All travellers should take care with personal and food and water hygiene.
Polio vaccination
- All travellers should have completed a polio vaccination course according to the UK schedule or their national programme.
- For non-UK residents, please follow any additional recommendations from your country of residence.
- Local public health advice should be followed if relevant to individual travel circumstances.
- There is no polio certificate requirement for entering or leaving this country.
Polio in brief
Rabies (Bat Lyssavirus)
Although rare, bat lyssaviruses (bat rabies) can be transmitted to humans or other animals following contact with the saliva of an infected bat most often by a bite. The disease can also be transmitted if the saliva of an infected bat gets into open wounds or mucous membranes (such as on the eye, nose or mouth). Bat lyssaviruses can cause disease in humans that is indistinguishable from rabies.
Symptoms can take some time to develop, but when they do the condition is almost always fatal.
The risk to most travellers is low. However, it is increased for certain occupations for example bat handlers and veterinarians, or certain activities such as caving.
Bat Lyssavirus in the United Kingdom
Rabies has not been reported in this country; therefore most travellers are considered to be at low risk. However, bats may carry bat lyssavirus (bat rabies).
Prevention
- Travellers should avoid contact with bats. Bites from bats are frequently unrecognised. Rabies-like disease caused by bat lyssaviruses is preventable with prompt post-exposure rabies management.
- Following a possible exposure, wounds should be thoroughly cleansed and an urgent local medical assessment sought, even if the wound appears trivial. Although rabies has not been reported in other animals in this country, it is sensible to seek prompt medical advice if bitten or scratched. It is possible, although very rare for bats to pass rabies like viruses to other animals including pets.
- Post-exposure treatment and advice should be in accordance with national guidelines.
Rabies vaccination
- A full course of pre-exposure vaccines simplifies and shortens the course of post-exposure treatment and removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin which is in short supply world-wide.
- Pre-exposure rabies vaccinations are recommended for those who are at increased risk due to their work (e.g. laboratory staff working with the virus and those working with bats).
- Pre-exposure vaccines could be considered for those whose activities put them at increased risk of exposure to bats.
Rabies in brief
Other Risks
There are some risks that are relevant to all travellers regardless of destination. These may for example include road traffic and other accidents, diseases transmitted by insects or ticks, diseases transmitted by contaminated food and water, or health issues related to the heat or cold.
Some additional risks (which may be present in all or part of this country) are mentioned below and are presented alphabetically. Select risk to expand information.
Biting insects or ticks
Insect or tick bites can cause irritation and infections of the skin at the site of a bite.
Diseases in Western Europe
In some areas of Western Europe certain insects or ticks may be present.
Prevention
- All travellers should avoid insect and tick bites day and night.
Further information about specific insect or tick-borne diseases for this country can be found, if appropriate on this page, in other sections of the country information pages and the insect and tick bite avoidance factsheet.
Influenza
Seasonal influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract and spreads easily from person to person via respiratory droplets when coughing and sneezing. Symptoms appear rapidly and include fever, muscle aches, headache, malaise (feeling unwell), cough, sore throat and a runny nose. In healthy individuals, symptoms improve without treatment within two to seven days. Severe illness is more common in those aged 65 years or over, those under 2 years of age, or those who have underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for complications of influenza.
Seasonal influenza in United Kingdom
Seasonal influenza occurs throughout the world. In the northern hemisphere (including the UK), most influenza occurs from as early as October through to March. In the southern hemisphere, influenza mostly occurs between April and September. In the tropics, influenza can occur throughout the year.
Prevention
All travellers should:
- Avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals
- Avoid crowded conditions where possible
- Wash their hands frequently
- Practise ‘cough hygiene’: sneezing or coughing into a tissue and promptly discarding it safely, and washing their hands
- Avoid travel if unwell with influenza-like symptoms
- A vaccine is available in certain circumstances (see below)*
*In the UK, seasonal influenza vaccine is offered routinely each year to those at higher risk of developing of severe disease following influenza infection, and certain additional groups such as healthcare workers and children as part of the UK national schedule (see information on vaccination). For those who do not fall into these groups, vaccination may be available privately.
If individuals at higher risk of severe disease following influenza infection are travelling to a country when influenza is likely to be circulating they should ensure they received a flu vaccination in the previous 12 months.
The vaccine used in the UK protects against the strains predicted to occur during the winter months of the northern hemisphere. It is not possible to obtain vaccine for the southern hemisphere in the UK, but the vaccine used during the UK influenza season should still provide important protection against strains likely to occur during the southern hemisphere influenza season, and in the tropics.
Avian influenza
Avian influenza viruses can rarely infect and cause disease in humans. Such cases are usually associated with close exposure to infected bird or animal populations. Where appropriate, information on these will be available in the outbreaks and news sections of the relevant country pages. Seasonal influenza vaccines will not provide protection against avian influenza.
Avian influenza in brief
Outdoor air quality
Poor air quality is a significant public health problem in many parts of the world. Exposure to high levels of air pollution over short time periods (e.g. minutes/hours/days) and longer time periods (e.g. years) is linked to many different acute and chronic health problems. These effects are mainly on the respiratory (lungs and airways) and cardiovascular (heart function and blood circulation) systems.
Current information on world air quality is available from the world air quality index project.
Prevention
Travellers with health problems that might make them more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution who are travelling to areas of high pollution should:
- discuss their travel plans with their doctor, and carry adequate supplies of their regular medication.
- take sensible precautions to minimise their exposure to high levels of air pollution.
- check local air quality data and amend their activities accordingly.
- take notice of any health advisories published by the local Ministry of Health and Department for Environment, and follow the guidance provided.
It is unclear if face masks are beneficial at reducing exposure and may make breathing more difficult for those with pre-existing lung conditions. Those who choose to use one should make sure that the mask fits well and know how to wear it properly.
Outdoor air quality in brief
Sexually transmitted infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a group of viral, bacterial and parasitic infections spread during sexual intercourse or by intimate contact. Certain STIs can be more difficult to treat due to higher levels of antibiotic resistance and some STIs that are rare in the UK may be more common in other world regions.
Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of getting an STI wherever they are in the world.
Risk is higher for travellers who:
- have sex without a condom
- have sex with new or casual partners
- engage in sex tourism
- have sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Symptoms of STIs vary depending on the type of infection; some may only cause mild or unnoticeable symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can include a rash, discharge, itching, blisters, sores or warts in genital and/or anal areas, pain when peeing and flu like symptoms.
If left untreated, STIs can cause serious long term health issues such as fertility problems, pelvic inflammatory disease and pregnancy complications.
Prevention
Using condoms consistently and correctly with new or casual partners is the most effective way to reduce risk of STIs.
Travellers can also reduce their risk of STIs by:
- ensuring they are up to date for all UK recommended vaccines, including if appropriate gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, mpox and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines
- considering HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) if appropriate
Travellers should seek medical advice and give their travel history if they think they may have an STI, even if they have no symptoms. They should also have a test for STIs if they have had sex without condoms with a new or casual partner while abroad.
In the UK STI testing is free and confidential.
Tick-borne encephalitis
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection spread by the bite of infected ticks. Occasionally cases of TBE occur after consumption of raw (unpasteurised) milk or dairy products from infected animals (e.g. cows, goats and sheep).
Ticks are usually most active between early spring and late autumn.
Tick-borne encephalitis in United Kingdom
Locally acquired cases of TBE have been reported in England and Scotland. Vaccination is not currently recommended for UK residents. Travellers are advised to ensure they follow tick bite awareness and avoidance advice.
Tick-borne encephalitis in brief
News
Worldwide rabies risk reminder
A reminder for travellers of the global risk of rabies and reporting of a rabies death in a UK Traveller in 2025
Mpox outbreak in Africa: clade I mpox virus infection
Mpox outbreak continues to meet the WHO criteria of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)
Cholera cases reported in the United Kingdom and Germany linked to Ethiopia
Information for travellers and health professionals
Outbreaks
Using information collated from a variety of sources, we regularly review and update information on overseas disease outbreaks and other health issues that may affect the UK traveller.
Please note that not all cases of disease or outbreaks are reported; for the UK, we only report on outbreaks of major global significance.
Further information on the Outbreak Surveillance section.
Botulism in United Kingdom
On 18 July 2025, the UK Health Security Agency issued a warning for the general public to be aware of signs and symptoms of botulism after a series of cases presented to NHS healthcare settings. Cases presented following adverse reactions after receiving cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin. Between 4 June and 14 July 2025, 38 cases have been reported in the North East, East of England and East Midlands region. Early investigations indicate that an unlicensed Botox-like product was used.
Measles in United Kingdom
As of 3 July 2025, there have been 529 confirmed measles cases reported in England for 2025. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on measles.
Rabies in United Kingdom ex Morocco
On 18 June 2025, it was confirmed that an individual from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a stray dog during a visit to Morocco. There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case as there is no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on rabies.
Lassa fever in UK ex Nigeria
On 7 March 2025, one case of Lassa fever was reported by UK Health Security Agency in a traveller from Nigeria. The traveller has since returned to Nigeria and contact tracing is ongoing. Lassa fever does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the public is very low. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on Lassa fever.
Cholera in UK ex Ethiopia
As of mid February 2025, four cases of cholera have been reported in the UK. Three cases had a history of recent travel to Ethiopia, two to the Amhara region, of these one had visited the holy well at Bermel Giorgis. One case had not travelled outside of the UK but consumed water from the well. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on cholera.
Mpox in United Kingdom ex Uganda
As of 4 February 2025, UKHSA has confirmed nine cases of clade Ib mpox in the UK. The ninth case was reported on 4 February 2025 and had a travel history to Uganda. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on mpox.
Influenza A(H5N1) in United Kingdom
On 27 January 2025, the UK Health Security Agency reported a human avian influenza A(H5N1) case in an individual who had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds. The risk to the wider public is very low. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on avian influenza.
VDPV2 in United Kingdom
As of 10 January 2025, a further vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) has been detected in an environmental sewage sample from London collected in December 2024. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on polio.