Vaccinations are only required if applicants have been in an infected area. Currently, Thailand requires a yellow fever vaccination from people who have been in or are returning from endemic areas.

To stay healthy in Thailand, most travelers need vaccinations against hepatitis A and typhoid, as well as medication for traveler's diarrhea. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for certain regions, along with insect repellent and other measures to protect against mosquito bites. Depending on the travel circumstances and the traveler's medical history, further vaccinations may be necessary. All travelers should consult a clinic or their family doctor 4–8 weeks before departure.

Thailand offers a wide variety of exotic and delicious foods and fruits. With a few precautions, travelers can enjoy most dishes in Thailand. Eat only thoroughly cooked and piping hot food. Avoid raw foods, except for fruits and vegetables that can be peeled or cored, and avoid fruits with damaged skin.

Bottled water is safe to drink in Thailand. A wide variety of brands are available. Please ensure that bottles are properly sealed before opening and drinking. Hot drinks such as tea and coffee are generally safe. In rural areas where bottled water is unavailable, boil drinking water if you have any doubts about its safety. Avoid ice cubes unless they are made from safe water. In hotels and upscale restaurants, ice is usually made from bottled or filtered water and is considered safe.

Thailand has various infectious diseases of varying severity. General precautions can reduce the risk of infection. Among the infectious diseases currently causing concern in Thailand are:

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are transmitted from person to person through unprotected sexual intercourse. The risk of infection can be reduced by avoiding casual sex and unprotected sex, and by using condoms. Examples of STIs include hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, and gonorrhea. In most developing countries, public health policies have effectively prevented the nationwide spread of HIV/AIDS; Thailand is an exception. A comprehensive HIV control program has halved visits to prostitutes, increased condom use, drastically reduced STIs, and significantly lowered the number of new HIV infections.

Cases of avian influenza in humans have been reported in Thailand. Travelers staying in Thailand for extended periods are advised to keep antiviral medication for avian influenza on hand as a precaution. Long-term residents have an increased risk of contracting avian influenza. Medical advice should be sought before starting antiviral medication. Visitors traveling to Thailand for shorter periods have a significantly lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health check-ups.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on the avian influenza situation (Influenza A H5N1 strain) from December 26, 2003 to October 10, 2005.

Avian influenza: 117 confirmed cases of avian influenza in humans have been reported in four countries: Vietnam (91 cases), Cambodia (4 cases), Thailand (17 cases), and Indonesia (5 cases). 60 of those infected were fatal. The Organisation for International Animal Health (OIE) reported outbreaks in poultry in Cambodia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Romania in 2005. (Further information can be found on the website of the Thai Ministry of Public Health: (epid.moph.go.th/invest/ai/aimain.php)).

The Ministry of Public Health has therefore issued the following health advice on disease prevention for travelers to the affected countries:

Taking antiviral medication to prevent avian influenza infection is strictly prohibited before traveling. It is completely useless, as the side effects outweigh any preventative effect. Furthermore, the widespread use of this type of prophylaxis can lead to the development of drug resistance. Therefore, if you experience symptoms resembling avian influenza, consult a doctor immediately. The human influenza vaccine is solely for preventing illness during the annual flu season. It does not protect against avian influenza (influenza A-H5N1).

During your trip – Avoid traveling to areas where outbreaks in poultry are still being reported or where there is a potential risk of a poultry outbreak, such as live animal markets or poultry farms.

– Avoid contact with wild birds and all types of poultry, including with feces or excrement on contaminated surfaces where avian influenza viruses from infected poultry may be present.

Cooked poultry meat or eggs are safe to eat, but avoid eating poultry or poultry products that are not fully cooked, such as raw blood, raw eggs, or undercooked poultry.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after touching public areas due to mites or frequently used items such as vehicles, stair railings, door handles, elevators or computers.

– Wearing a mask or other personal protective equipment in public is not recommended unless you have cold symptoms or symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, in order to prevent infecting others.

When preparing food, keep raw meat separate from cooked meat. Do not put cooked food back into the container that previously held raw meat to avoid cross-contamination.

Wash your hands every time before preparing food.

All dishes prepared from poultry, including eggs and blood, must be cooked thoroughly. The egg yolk must be firm, not undercooked.

– Wash the outer eggshell with soap and water before preparation.

Wash your hands with soap and water after handling poultry or raw eggs. Utensils and kitchen equipment used for pickling raw meat and raw eggs must be cleaned with soap and water or dish soap after each use.

If you suspect an infection with the avian influenza virus, monitor your symptoms for 10 days after infection.

– If you experience fever, cough, difficulty breathing or other symptoms within 10 days, consult a doctor immediately and provide details of the symptoms, contact with poultry or avian influenza and your travel history.

Stay home while you have symptoms. Avoid contact with other people to prevent infection.

Malaria is present year-round in rural areas, particularly in forested and hilly regions throughout the country, especially near borders. There is no risk of malaria in cities and major tourist centers (e.g., Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui). When traveling to mountainous regions with overnight stays, insect repellent and impregnated mosquito nets are recommended. Plasmodium falciparum (Malaria tropica) is present and has reportedly become highly resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine pyrimethamine. Resistance to mefloquine and quinine has been observed in areas near the borders with Myanmar and Cambodia.

For up-to-date information on the extent of malaria transmission in a specific area of ​​the country, contact the Bureau of Vector-Transmitted Diseases of the Thai Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Road, Nonthaburi, Thailand 11000 (Email: [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]; Tel.: +662-590-3126, +662-590-3127, +662-590-3271, +662-590-3132; Fax: +662-591-8422).

Dengue fever is widespread throughout Thailand below 600 meters altitude, including Bangkok. The prevalence is higher in southern Thailand. There is no prophylaxis for dengue fever, so precautions should be taken to avoid mosquito bites, especially during the day (repellents are best). Transmission of dengue fever depends heavily on how carefully residents of an area keep all objects dry where water could collect and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Other risks: Amoebic dysentery, bacterial dysentery, and hepatitis A and E can occur. Hepatitis B is widespread, and cases of trachoma have also been reported. Japanese encephalitis can occur, particularly in rural areas. A vaccine is available; travelers are advised to consult their doctor before traveling. Rare cases of cholera have been reported in Bengal, and a leptospirosis outbreak in the northeast of the country following flooding in 1999 resulted in several deaths. Rabies is present; high-risk individuals should consider vaccination before traveling. In case of a bite, seek immediate medical attention.

For all trips abroad, taking out travel and health insurance is strongly recommended. Travelers should check with their insurer to ensure their policy meets their needs. In particular, they should consult their insurer about which circumstances and activities are excluded from coverage. Medical care is good in the larger cities. All major hotels offer an on-call medical service.