Travelling to Cambodia: Vaccines and Staying Well

From the temples of Angkor Wat to the beaches of Kampot and the bustle of Phnom Penh, Cambodia is a rewarding destination. It’s also a country where a little health preparation goes a long way. Mosquito-borne illnesses, food and water hygiene, animal bites and road safety are the main things travellers should plan for.

This guide explains which vaccines are commonly recommended for Cambodia, how to protect yourself from malaria and dengue, and how to stay well while you’re there.

Before you go: when to get advice

Some vaccines need more than one dose over several weeks, so aim to get travel health advice at least six to eight weeks before you leave. If you’re travelling sooner, still book an appointment, as a pharmacist or travel nurse can tell you what is still worthwhile.

The right advice depends on your itinerary, how long you’re staying, the time of year, what you’ll be doing, and your own health. Staying in hotels in Siem Reap for a week carries a different level of risk from volunteering in a rural village for three months.

Routine vaccines

Check your routine UK vaccinations are up to date before any travel-specific ones:

• MMR (measles, mumps and rubella): two doses are recommended, as measles can spread in many countries.
• Tetanus, diphtheria and polio: a booster is usually advised if you haven’t had one in the last ten years.
• Seasonal flu and COVID-19: if you’re eligible, consider these before travelling.
• Children: make sure children’s routine immunisations are up to date.

Vaccines commonly recommended for Cambodia

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and water and is recommended for most travellers to Cambodia. It is available on the NHS in England for travel.

Typhoid

Typhoid is also spread through food and water and is usually recommended, particularly if you’ll be eating street food, travelling outside the main cities or staying for a longer period. It is available on the NHS in England for travel.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B may be advised if you’re staying for a long time, may need medical or dental treatment, plan to get a tattoo or piercing, or could have new sexual partners. It is usually given as a course of doses.

Rabies

Rabies is present in Cambodia, and dogs are the main source of risk. Travellers are often advised to consider the vaccine if they’re staying for a long time, going to rural areas, travelling with young children, or doing activities such as cycling and running. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must get urgent medical help after any bite, scratch or lick from an animal (including dogs, cats and monkeys, which are common around temples).

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne infection found in Cambodia, especially in rural and farming areas. The vaccine is usually recommended for longer stays, or for shorter trips with a lot of time spent in rural areas. It is given as a course, so allow enough time.

Cholera

Cholera vaccination is not usually needed for typical tourists, but may be considered for aid workers or those going to areas with outbreaks. Your travel health professional can advise.

Yellow fever

There is no risk of yellow fever in Cambodia, but you may need a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter if you’re arriving from, or have passed through, a country with a risk of yellow fever. Check the entry requirements for your whole route, including stopovers.

Malaria in Cambodia

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, and the risk in Cambodia varies by area. It is generally lowest in the main tourist areas and highest in remote, forested and border regions. Drug-resistant malaria has been reported in parts of the country, so it’s important to get up-to-date advice on which tablets, if any, are suitable for you.

Whether you need antimalarial tablets depends on exactly where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, as well as your health and any medicines you take. Ask your pharmacist or travel health professional, and bring your itinerary. If you do need tablets, you’ll have to start them before you travel and continue after you return, so don’t leave it until the last minute.

Malaria can be dangerous, and symptoms can appear weeks, or even months, after you return. If you develop a fever, headache or flu-like symptoms after travelling, tell your doctor straight away that you’ve been to a malaria area.

Dengue: the main mosquito risk for most travellers

Dengue is common in Cambodia, with the risk present throughout the year and typically highest during the rainy season, roughly from May to October or November. The mosquitoes that carry dengue bite during the day, so protection matters from morning until dusk, including in cities.

Symptoms include a high temperature, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea and a rash. Most people recover with rest, fluids and paracetamol, but some develop severe illness. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin if you suspect dengue, as they can increase the risk of bleeding, and seek medical help promptly.

For most UK travellers, the main protection is avoiding bites. Ask a travel health professional whether any other options apply to you.

How to avoid mosquito bites

• Use an insect repellent containing 50% DEET on exposed skin, and reapply as directed
• Wear loose, long-sleeved tops and long trousers, particularly in the early morning, late afternoon and early evening
• Sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms, or under a mosquito net
• Use mosquito coils or plug-in vaporisers where suitable
• Apply sunscreen first and repellent afterwards
  
  

Food and water safety

Travellers’ diarrhoea is the most common health problem abroad. To reduce your risk:

• Drink bottled or treated water, and check the seal is intact
• Avoid ice in drinks unless you’re sure it’s made from safe water
• Brush your teeth with bottled or treated water
• Choose food that is freshly cooked and served hot
• Be careful with raw salads, unpeeled fruit, shellfish and food that has been left out
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, and use alcohol hand gel when you can’t
• Carry oral rehydration sachets, and use them if you have diarrhoea and vomiting
  
  

See a doctor if you have blood in your stool, a high temperature, severe symptoms, or if symptoms last more than a few days.

Bird flu and animals

Cambodia has reported human cases of avian influenza (bird flu), usually linked to contact with sick or dead poultry. The risk to ordinary tourists is low, but it’s sensible to avoid live bird markets and poultry farms, and not to touch sick or dead birds.

Avoid contact with stray animals and monkeys, don’t feed them, and clean any bite or scratch immediately with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, then seek urgent medical advice.

Road safety, heat and other risks

The biggest danger to many travellers isn’t an infection at all.

• Roads: traffic accidents are a leading cause of injury. If you use a moped or motorbike taxi, wear a proper helmet, and check your travel insurance covers you, including any licence requirements.
• Heat and sun: the weather is hot and humid. Drink plenty of fluids, use sunscreen, wear a hat and take breaks from the heat.
• Unexploded ordnance: parts of the country still have landmines and unexploded munitions. Stick to marked paths and heed warning signs.
• Swimming: take care in rivers, lakes and the sea. Freshwater can carry infections, so check local advice.
• Healthcare: good medical facilities are mostly in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and are limited elsewhere. Travel insurance that covers medical treatment and repatriation is essential.

Your Cambodia checklist

• Book a travel health appointment six to eight weeks before you go
• Check routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus, diphtheria and polio)
• Ask about hepatitis A, typhoid, and whether you need hepatitis B, rabies or Japanese encephalitis
• Find out whether you need malaria tablets for your specific itinerary
• Check entry requirements, including visas and any yellow fever certificate needs
• Pack insect repellent, oral rehydration sachets, sun protection and a basic first aid kit
• Carry regular medicines in their original packaging, with a copy of your prescription
• Arrange travel insurance that covers your activities and medical care
• Keep vaccination records with your passport