Travel Diseases
Browse travel-related diseases and health conditions. Learn about symptoms, prevention, and vaccinations.
Traveling exposes you to diseases that may not be common at home. From mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue to food- and waterborne infections like typhoid and cholera, understanding the risks at your destination is the first step to staying healthy. Browse our database of travel-related diseases, each with WHO-verified prevention advice, vaccine availability, and country-by-country risk assessments.
Results: 46
34 vaccine-preventable · 12 other conditions
Adenovirus Infection
Common viral infections causing respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, and gastroenteritis, with military vaccine available for types 4 and 7.
African Trypanosomiasis
Parasitic disease ("sleeping sickness") transmitted by tsetse fly bites in Sub-Saharan Africa. Two forms: gambiense (chronic, West/Central Africa) and rhodesiense (acute, East/Southern Africa). Fatal without treatment. Nearing elimination as a public health problem.
Anthrax
Serious bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis spores, occurring as cutaneous, inhalation, or gastrointestinal forms.
Avian Influenza
Zoonotic influenza caused by avian influenza A viruses (primarily H5N1, H7N9). High case fatality rate (~30–60% for H5N1). Acquired through direct contact with infected poultry. Pandemic potential if sustained human-to-human transmission develops.
Chagas Disease
Chronic parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, transmitted primarily by triatomine bugs ("kissing bugs"). Affects 6–7 million people worldwide. Can cause fatal cardiomyopathy and megaviscera decades after initial infection.
Chikungunya
Viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes causing high fever and severe, often debilitating joint pain. A vaccine (Ixchiq) was approved by FDA in November 2023.
Cholera
An acute intestinal infection mainly spread through contaminated water or food. Rapid rehydration is key.
COVID-19
Respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia. Vaccination requirements for travel vary by country and change frequently.
Dengue Fever
Mosquito-borne viral infection causing high fever, severe pain, and potentially fatal hemorrhagic complications. The fastest-spreading arboviral disease globally with ~390 million infections per year.
Diphtheria
Serious bacterial infection of the throat and nose causing a characteristic membrane. Can be fatal due to airway obstruction or toxin-mediated heart and nerve damage. Preventable by DTP vaccination.
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Disease
Severe invasive bacterial infections in young children including meningitis, epiglottitis, and pneumonia, preventable by Hib conjugate vaccine.
Hepatitis A
Acute viral liver infection transmitted through contaminated food and water. The most common vaccine-preventable travel disease worldwide.
Hepatitis B
Serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Highly effective vaccine available.
Hepatitis C
Bloodborne viral infection causing chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Curable with direct-acting antivirals (>95% cure rate) but no vaccine exists. ~50 million people chronically infected worldwide.
HPV Infection
Most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide; high-risk HPV types cause cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, and genital cancers. Preventable by vaccination.
Leishmaniasis
Vector-borne parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies. Three main forms: cutaneous (skin sores), mucocutaneous (destroys mucous membranes), and visceral (kala-azar — affects internal organs, fatal if untreated).
Leptospirosis
Bacterial zoonosis acquired through contaminated water or soil. A leading cause of illness after floods and in adventure travelers. Treatable with antibiotics if caught early.
Malaria
Parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical regions. Can be life-threatening without proper treatment.
Measles
Highly contagious viral disease causing fever, rash, and respiratory symptoms. One of the most infectious pathogens known to science (R0 = 12–18).
Meningococcal Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis and septicemia caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Rapidly fatal without treatment; vaccination required for Hajj pilgrims and recommended for Africa's meningitis belt.
Mpox
Viral zoonotic disease causing fever, lymphadenopathy, and progressive skin lesions. WHO declared PHEIC in 2024 for clade I outbreak. Vaccine (Jynneos/Imvanex) available.
Mumps
Viral infection primarily affecting the salivary glands, causing painful facial swelling. Largely prevented by MMR vaccination.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Highly contagious bacterial respiratory disease causing prolonged severe coughing fits with characteristic "whoop." Fatal in infants under 6 months. Prevented by DTP/Tdap vaccination.
Plague
Severe bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis, transmitted by infected flea bites or respiratory droplets. Three clinical forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic. Treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed early; untreated pneumonic plague is nearly always fatal.
Pneumococcal Disease
Serious bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), ranging from ear infections to life-threatening pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.
Poliomyelitis
Infectious viral disease that can cause permanent paralysis. Globally on the verge of eradication — wild poliovirus type 1 remains endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Rabies
A viral infection of the nervous system, usually transmitted through an animal bite. After exposure, time matters.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and significant respiratory illness in elderly adults, with new vaccines and monoclonal antibodies available.
Rift Valley Fever
Viral zoonosis primarily affecting livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Transmitted to humans by mosquito bites or contact with infected animal blood/tissues. Most cases mild, but ~8–10% develop severe complications including hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, or retinitis.
Rotavirus Gastroenteritis
Highly contagious viral gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus, primarily affecting infants and young children with severe watery diarrhea and vomiting.
Rubella (German Measles)
Usually mild viral infection causing a distinctive red rash. Critical risk: congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in unvaccinated pregnant women — causes deafness, blindness, and heart defects in the fetus.
Schistosomiasis
Parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma blood flukes, acquired through freshwater exposure. Affects over 250 million people worldwide, predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Smallpox
Devastating viral disease declared eradicated in 1980, caused by variola virus, with vaccine stockpiles maintained for bioterrorism preparedness.
Tetanus
Life-threatening bacterial infection causing painful muscle spasms and rigidity. Not contagious — caused by Clostridium tetani toxin from wound contamination. Fully preventable by vaccination.
Tick-Borne Encephalitis
Viral infection of the central nervous system transmitted by Ixodes tick bites. Biphasic illness with flu-like phase followed by neurological involvement. Effective vaccine available.
Travelers' Diarrhea
The most common travel-related illness, affecting 20-60% of travelers to developing regions. Usually self-limiting within 3-5 days. Caused primarily by bacterial pathogens from contaminated food and water.
Tuberculosis
Chronic bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The world's deadliest infectious disease with 10.8 million new cases and 1.25 million deaths annually.
Typhoid Fever
Systemic bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi, transmitted via contaminated food and water. A major travel health risk in South Asia with ~11 million cases annually.
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