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General information


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* Christmas_Island_(Australia)

The information on these pages should be used to research health risks and to
inform the pre-travel consultation. For advice regarding safety and security
please check the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.
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.
While most travellers have a healthy and safe trip, there are some risks that
are relevant to 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, sexually
transmitted infections, or health issues related to the heat or cold.
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


* Food_and_water_hygiene
* Insect_and_tick_bite_avoidance
* Personal_safety
* Sexually_transmitted_infections
* Sun_protection


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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.
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 the individual chapters of the ‘Green
Book’ Immunisation_against_infectious_disease for further details.

Certificate Requirements

Please read the information below carefully, as certificate requirements may
be relevant to certain travellers only. For travellers further details, if
required, should be sought from their healthcare professional.

* There is no risk of yellow fever transmission in Australia, however, there is
  a certificate requirement.
* Under International Health Regulations (2005), a yellow fever vaccination
  certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age arriving from
  countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having
  transited more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of
  yellow fever transmission, excluding Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, the island
  of Tobago and limited to Misiones province in Argentina.
* This country considers the yellow fever certificate to be valid for 10 years
* View_the_WHO_list_of_countries_with_risk_of_yellow_fever_transmission


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 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 appropriate medical
attention.

Tetanus vaccination


* Travellers should have completed a primary vaccination course according to
  the UK schedule.
* If travelling to a country 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 FCO_foreign_travel_advice website.
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.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection; it is transmitted by exposure to infected
blood or body fluids. This mostly occurs during sexual contact or as a result
of blood-to-blood contact (for example from contaminated equipment during
medical and dental procedures, tattooing or body piercing procedures, and
sharing of intravenous needles).   Mothers with the virus can also transmit the
infection to their baby during childbirth.

Hepatitis B in Australia

2% or more of the population are known or thought to be persistently infected
with the hepatitis B virus (intermediate/high prevalence).

Prevention

Travellers should avoid contact with blood or body fluids. This includes:

* avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse.
* avoiding tattooing, piercing, public shaving, and acupuncture (unless sterile
  equipment is used).
* not sharing needles or other injection equipment.
* following universal precautions if working in a medical/dental/high risk
  setting.

A sterile medical equipment kit may be helpful when travelling to resource poor
areas.

Hepatitis B vaccination

Vaccination could be considered for all travellers, and is recommended for
those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk including:

* those who may have unprotected sex.
* those who may be exposed to contaminated needles through injecting drug use.
* those who may be exposed to blood or body fluids through their work (e.g.
  health workers).
* those who may be exposed to contaminated needles as a result of having
  medical or dental care e.g. those with pre-existing medical conditions and
  those travelling for medical care abroad including those intending to receive
  renal dialysis overseas.
* long-stay travellers
* those who are participating in contact sports.
* families adopting children from this country.

Hepatitis_B_in_brief
Japanese Encepahalitis (JE)
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a viral infection transmitted to humans from
animals (mainly pigs and birds) by mosquitoes which typically breed in rice
paddy fields, swamps and marshes.  These mosquitoes predominantly feed between
dusk and dawn.
Those at increased risk include travellers who are staying for a month or
longer during the transmission season, especially if travel will include rural
areas with rice fields and marshland.
Travellers on shorter trips (typically less than a month) and those who
restrict their visits to urban areas are usually considered to be at very low
risk.

Japanese encephalitis in Australia

Japanese encephalitis occurs in limited areas of this country with year-round
transmission. The affected areas are the Islands of Torres Strait and the Cape
York Peninsula (in the north east of Australia).

Prevention

All travellers should avoid mosquito bites particularly between dusk and dawn.

Japanese encephalitis vaccination


* Vaccination is recommended for those whose activities put them at increased
  risk (see above).
* Vaccination could be considered for those on shorter trips if the risk is
  considered to be sufficient e.g. those spending time in areas where the
  mosquito breeds such as rice fields or marshlands, or pig farming areas.

Japanese_encephalitis_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 Australia

Rabies has not been reported in domestic or wild animals 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 treatment.
* 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


* 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


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Other risks

The risk below may be present in all or part of the country.

Dengue

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes which predominantly feed
between dawn and dusk.  It causes a flu-like illness, which can occasionally
develop into a more serious life-threatening form of the disease. Severe dengue
is rare in travellers.
The mosquitoes that transmit dengue are most abundant in towns, cities and
surrounding areas. All travellers to dengue areas are at risk.

Dengue in Australia

There is a risk of dengue_in_the_state_of_Queensland. At present the risk of
dengue in other parts of Australia is minimal.

Prevention


* All travellers should avoid mosquito bites particularly between dawn and
  dusk.
* There is no vaccination or medication to prevent dengue.

Dengue_in_brief


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Important News

_Mosquito-generic_
19 Jan 2015

Mosquito-borne_diseases:_Australia

Mosquitoes in Australia transmit various diseases Read_more

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outbreaks


Measles_in_Australia

08 Apr 2016 View Regions  +  Queensland
Sydney
As of 6 April 2016, four cases have been reported. Two cases had been
travelling in Queensland whilst infectious. The other two cases had arrived on
a flight to Sydney from New Delhi. Public is warned about potential exposure in
Queensland and Sydney in recent days.
Human
Close association
New Post
Verified
State_-_Read_more

*


Measles_in_Australia

18 Mar 2016 Victoria. Australia
As of 17 March 2016, the number of cases has risen to 21 since end of January
2016. Cases have occurred in several suburbs to Greater Melbourne.
Human
Close association
Update 1
Verified
State_-_Read_more

*


Legionellosis_in_Australia

18 Mar 2016 Sydney. Australia
As of 9 March 2016, four cases have been reported. Central Sydney is the centre
of the outbreak.
Human
Air-borne
New Post
Verified
State_-_Read_more

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Salmonellosis_in_Australia

10 Feb 2016 Victoria. Australia
On 5 February 2016 a recall of a range of pre-packaged salad products was
announced which have been linked to an outbreak of salmonella.
Human
Food and Water-borne
New Post
Verified
State_-_Read_more

*


Pertussis_in_Australia

05 Jan 2016 Australia
As of 11 December 2015, a total of 20,670 notifications of pertussis (whooping
cough) have been reported for 2015. This is approximately 1.7 times the number
notified for the same period in 2014.
Human
Close association
Update 1
Verified
State_-_Read_more

*


Japanese_encephalitis_in_Australia_ex_Indonesia

05 Jan 2016 View Countries  +  Australia
Indonesia (including Bali)

As of 11 December 2015, a case of Japanese Encephalitis in a 42 year-old woman
has been reported in Queensland. She is reported as acquiring the infection in
Indonesia.
Human
Vector-born
New Post
Verified
State_-_Read_more

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Measles_in_Australia_ex_Singapore

08 Dec 2015 View Countries  +  Australia
Singapore

As of 4 December 2015 a case of measles has been confirmed in an adult recently
returned from Singapore.
Human
Close association
New Post
Verified
State_-_Read_more

*


Pertussis_in_Australia

28 Aug 2015 Australia
An increased number of pertussis cases continue to be reported in Australian
Capital Territory, with a large number of cases occurring amongst school aged
children. A similar increase has been observed in New South Wales.
Human
Close association
Update 1
Verified
State_-_Read_more

*


Ross_River_virus_in_Netherlands_ex_Australia

07 Aug 2015 View Countries  +  Australia
Netherlands

Two cases of Ross River virus (RRV) infection have been repoted in Dutch
travellers who visited Australia during Feb-Apr 2015.
Human
Imported
Vector-born
New Post
Verified
Eurosurveillance_-_Read_more

*


Ross_river_virus_in_Australia

02 Jun 2015 Queensland. Australia
As of 2 June 2015; a total of 7;267 Ross River virus disease cases have been
reported. This is the largest number of reported cases since 1996.
Human
Vector-born
Update 4
Verified
State_-_Read_more

*

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