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Other vaccine preventable risks

The following vaccinations may be considered depending on your itinerary and planned activities. These can be discussed in more detail with one of our travel health consultants.  

 Japanese B Encephalitis

Yellow Fever

* The Yellow Fever vaccination certificate may be required for travel to this country. Please click on the disease name above for more information.

Malaria risk

Australia is normally malaria free. In the past there has been some limited transmssion in the coastal regions around Cairns. This however, is related to people arriving from neighbouring Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Malaria tablets are not usually advised.

Non-vaccine preventable risks

• Ross River Virus and Murray Valley Encephalitis are spread by mosquitoes. Ross River Virus is a non-lethal but debilitating tropical disease that causes fever, joint pain and rash. Murray Valley Encephalitis causes headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and can eventually result in brain damage or even death.  Both occur predominantly in the sub-tropical Northern States (e.g. Darwin, Alice Springs and Queensland). Bite avoidance measures should be taken.  

• Travellers' diarrhoea is usually caused by eating contaminated food or drinking unsafe water.  Symptoms may be severe with frequent watery stools, thirst, dry mouth and tongue, headache and weakness. Water should always be treated when there is doubt about its cleanliness. Food that may be contaminated must be thoroughly cooked and hands washed prior to eating.

• HIV infection is spread through sexual intercourse or infected blood or blood products (e.g. through blood transfusions or the use of blood contaminated instruments such as intravenous needles). 

• Dengue Fever, which is often referred to as break-bone fever, is spread through the bite of the mosquito. It causes a feverish illness with headache and muscle pains like a bad, prolonged, attack of influenza. A rash can also develop. It is becoming more common in many parts of the world. Mosquito bites should be avoided whenever possible. 

• Leptospirosis is spread through the faeces of infected rodents especially rats. It is unusual for travellers to be affected unless living in poor sanitary conditions.