Australia : Travel Health

WARNING! This information is out-dated and likely to be inaccurate!

Researching Travel Plans

Please note that this health information about Australia may be out-of-date. Always research the current health conditions and issues in any region you plan to visit prior to departure.

Infectious Diseases and Medical Concerns for Australia

The following medical diseases or health concerns are more common in travel to Australia (compared to the USA and other areas of the Western World):

• Infectious diseases are mostly similar to the US and the Western world
• Insect-born diseases
• Arthropod-borne diseases
• Dengue fever - in tropical areas of Australia
• Lyme-like disease (type of Lyme disease) - similar to the USA's Lyme disease
• Ross River virus - in tropical areas of Australia
• Murray Valley encephalitis
• Japanese encephalitis - an epidemic occurred in 1998
• Infectious diseases are mostly similar to the US and the Western world
• Insect-born diseases
• Arthropod-borne diseases
• Dengue fever - in tropical areas of Australia
• Lyme-like disease (type of Lyme disease) - similar to the USA's Lyme disease
• Ross River virus - in tropical areas of Australia
• Murray Valley encephalitis
• Japanese encephalitis - an epidemic occurred in 1998

More Common Diseases and Medical Concerns for Australia

The following health concerns or diseases are more commonly found in Australia compared to the USA and other areas of the Western World:

• sunburn - The Australian sun is stronger in some areas of Australia compared to the USA and Europe
• heatstroke
• dehydration
• water-related injury
• beach drownings - There have been various publicized drownings of tourists on Australian beaches who were unfamiliar with surf conditions and "rips"
• estuarine crocodile attacks - Northern area waters have had several publicized crocodile attacks (several against tourists)
• jellyfish stings - Mostly in the northern waters
• Dengue fever - found in the Northern areas of Australia and spread by mosquitos
• Ross River virus - in tropical areas of Australia
• Murray Valley encephalitis
• snake bite
• spider bite
• sunburn - The Australian sun is stronger in some areas of Australia compared to the USA and Europe
• heatstroke
• dehydration
• water-related injury
• beach drownings - There have been various publicized drownings of tourists on Australian beaches who were unfamiliar with surf conditions and "rips"
• estuarine crocodile attacks - Northern area waters have had severe publicized crocodile attacks (several against tourists)
• jellyfish stings - Mostly in the northern waters
• Dengue fever - found in the Northern areas of Australia and spread by mosquitos
• Ross River virus - in tropical areas of Australia
• Murray Valley encephalitis
• snake bite
• spider bite

Epidemics for Australia

The following health concerns, diseases or comments are related to epidemics in Australia:

• skin cancer - Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world
• chronic diseases - Australia has an "epidemic" of the various chronic diseases of the Western world
• obesity
• diabetes
• skin cancer - Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world
• chronic diseases - Australia has an "epidemic" of the various chronic diseases of the Western world
• obesity
• diabetes
• Dengue fever

Less Common Diseases and Health Concerns for Australia

The following health concerns or medical diseases are less commonly found in Australia compared to the USA and other areas of the Western World:

• rabies - Rabies is not found in Australia (but there is a rabies-like virus in bats)
• malaria - Malaria is rare in Australia
• rabies - Rabies is not found in Australia (but there is a rabies-like virus in bats)
• malaria - Malaria is rare in Australia

Uncommon or Rare Diseases and Medical Concerns for Australia

These medical diseases or health concerns are uncommon or rare in Australia:

• poisonous fish - although possible it is very rare to be stung by a poisonous fish (e.g. stone fish)
• poisonous sea snakes - these are not as common in Australia and New Zealand compared to other South Pacific areas.
• yellow fever - Not a significant issue in Australia (or New Zealand)
• Hepatitis A - Not a major issue in Australia
• Poliomyelitis - not found in Australia
• poisonous fish - although possible it is very rare to
• be stung by a poisonous fish (e.g. stone fish )
• poisonous sea snakes - these are not as common in Australia and New Zealand compared to other South Pacific areas.
• yellow fever - Not a significant issue in Australia (or New Zealand)
• Hepatitis A - Not a major issue in Australia
• hepatitis B - no real threat to international travelers
• Poliomyelitis - not found in Australia

Vaccinations for Travel to Australia

The following medical vaccinations are desirable or helpful for travel to Australia to prevent contagious diseases in Australia:

• No significant vaccination requirements against infectious diseases - Infectious health issues in Australia are similar to the US and the Western world.
• No significant vaccination requirements against infectious diseases - Infectious health issues in Australia are similar to the US and the Western world.

Preventions or Health Precautions for Travel to Australia

Any health risk of travel to Australia may be reduced by the following precautionary health measures when visiting Australia:

• Most precautionary measures are similar to those of travel to the USA
• sun protection measures
• sunscreen
• swim between the flags on beaches
• obey instructions of surf life saver personnel
• mosquito bite preventions
• insect bite preventions
• spider bite preventions
• snake bite preventions
• Most precautionary measures are similar to those of travel to the USA
• sun protection measures
• sunscreen
• swim between the flags on beaches
• obey instructions of surf life saver personnel
• mosquito bite preventions
• insect bite preventions
• spider bite preventions
• snake bite preventions