HEALTH TIPS FOR THAILAND

I will be travelling to Thailand in May. Which vaccinations should I consider? Is there malaria? Also, please give me safety tips about the food and water. — K Aphane

Thailand has a long-established history as a tourist destination and does not generally entail any serious health threats for those who exercise a bit of common sense. There are no mandatory vaccinations, but the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all travellers anywhere be up to date with routine vaccines — measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheriatetanus-pertussis, chickenpox, and polio.

For Thailand specifically, it recommends vaccines for the food-borne diseases of typhoid and hepatitis A.

If you’re planning on visiting more remote, rural areas, then more vaccinations are recommended. Find the list at cdc.gov.

Thailand does have malaria, but the risk in most cities is low to none. Whether you should take prophylactics will depend on where you are going but if you’re sticking to cities, you’ll be fine. Insect repellent, wherever you are, is always a good idea, as is sunblock, though you can buy both of these there. Hand sanitiser, too, will surely come in handy.

Avoid tap water — bottled water is easy to come by. For extra care, use this to brush your teeth too. The street food is a must-try — but make sure it’s freshly cooked in front of you. You don’t want to be eating dishes that have been kept warm for who knows how long.