Most UK travellers to Cambodia are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid, with hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and measles protection considered for some trips. Your final list is confirmed at a consultation at Crewe Travel Clinic.
For Cambodia, most UK travellers are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid, with hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and measles protection recommended for some trips depending on your plans. Malaria risk is limited mainly to rural and border areas, so tablets are only advised for some itineraries, while bite avoidance suits everyone. Crewe Travel Clinic will review your itinerary and confirm exactly what you need at your consultation.
From the temples of Angkor Wat and the lively markets of Siem Reap to the riverfront capital of Phnom Penh and the laid-back southern islands such as Koh Rong, Cambodia is a rewarding long-haul destination for travellers from Crewe and across Cheshire. Because a trip can mix bustling cities, ancient temple complexes, palm-fringed beaches and rural countryside, the health advice depends on where you go, how long you stay and what you plan to do. A short city-and-temple tour staying in good hotels carries different risks from a longer stay that takes in rural villages, forest edges, the Mekong region or plenty of street food.\n\nWe recommend booking your travel health appointment ideally six to eight weeks before you fly, as several vaccines are given as a course over a number of weeks and a little forward planning gives them time to work. Even at shorter notice it is still worth contacting us, as there is usually something useful we can arrange. At Crewe Travel Clinic our nurse will review your itinerary, planned activities, vaccination history and general health, then talk you through a tailored, non-individualised list that follows current TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) and WHO guidance, confirmed in person.
Spread through contaminated food and water, which is a genuine risk across Cambodia, so this is advised for almost all travellers.
A combined booster is recommended if it has been ten years or more since your last dose, keeping your routine UK protection current.
Recommended for most travellers given the standard of food and water hygiene, particularly on longer trips or where you will eat outside larger hotels and resorts.
Considered for longer stays, healthcare or aid work, adventure activities, tattoos or piercings, or anyone who may need medical or dental treatment while away.
Worth considering as rabies is present in dogs, monkeys and bats; pre-travel doses simplify treatment if you are bitten or scratched far from a reliable clinic.
Considered for longer stays, repeated travel or trips spent largely in rural and rice-growing areas, especially during and just after the rainy season.
Recommended if you are not fully covered by two UK doses, as measles still circulates and spreads easily among unprotected travellers.
May be considered for unvaccinated under-16s staying longer periods, or for those likely to have close or occupational contact with local communities.
Malaria risk in Cambodia is limited rather than countrywide, and for most holiday travellers no antimalarial tablets are needed. The popular destinations of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, and the area immediately around Tonle Sap lake, are generally considered risk-free. A risk remains in some rural and forested areas, particularly near the borders, where tablets may be advised depending on your exact route and activities. Bite avoidance is sensible everywhere, and we will confirm whether you need antimalarials at your consultation.
There is no risk of yellow fever in Cambodia, so the vaccine is not recommended for health reasons. However, there is a certificate requirement under the International Health Regulations: proof of yellow fever vaccination is required from travellers aged 1 year and over arriving from, or transiting through, a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Travelling directly from the UK this does not apply, but it matters if your trip includes parts of Africa or South America beforehand. We can advise on certificates and, as a Registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, vaccinate and issue the internationally recognised ICVP certificate where one is required.
Check yellow fever certificate requirementsFood and water hygiene is the most common cause of illness in Cambodia, so stick to bottled or properly treated water, avoid ice of unknown origin, choose freshly cooked hot food and be cautious with salads, peeled fruit and shellfish; street food can be excellent, so favour busy stalls with a high turnover. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya are common, including in towns and during the rainy season, and these mosquitoes bite by day, so bite avoidance is essential at all hours: use a DEET-based repellent, cover up and consider a treated net in rural or budget accommodation. The tropical heat and strong sun call for good hydration and sun protection, and road and motorbike accidents are a leading cause of injury, so take care on the roads and arrange comprehensive travel insurance.