Canada : Travel Health

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

Researching Travel Plans

Please note that this health information about Canada may be out-of-date.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 Canada

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

• The incidence of communicable diseases is such that they are unlikely to prove a hazard for international travelers greater than that found in their own country
• plague - risk for travelers is small
• rabies
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• tularemia
• encephalitis - arthropod-borne
• influenza - seasonal outbreaks.
• Lyme disease
• West Nile virus
• E. coli O157:H7
• Salmonellosis
• Hantavirus - in some rural/farming areas

More Common Diseases and Medical Concerns for Canada

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

• motor vehicle trauma - wear seatbelts and avoid night driving

Less Common Diseases and Health Concerns for Canada

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

• bovine spongiform encephalopathy - (BSE/mad cow disease) - isolated cases

Uncommon or Rare Diseases and Medical Concerns for Canada

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

• HIV / AIDS in donated blood - rigorous testing procedures make risk of infection from a blood donor extremely low
• hepatitis A - travelers no more at risk than in the U.S.A.
• hepatitis B - no real threat to international travelers
• malaria - no current risk

Vaccinations for Travel to Canada

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

• no specific vaccinations are required for travel however if entering in a schooling program, the following vaccinations are required:
• diphtheria
• measles
• poliomyelitis
• rubella
• In addition, schooling in most states requires vaccination against:
• tetanus
• pertussis
• mumps
• hepatitis B

Preventions or Health Precautions for Travel to Canada

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

• health risks exist but in general, the precautions required are minimal
• poisonous snakes
• poison ivy
• poison oak
• beware of wild animals
• avalanches may occur - take care and heed local precautions
• Earth tremors may occur - take care and heed local precautions
• tornadoes may occur - take care and heed local precautions

Other Relevant Issues for Travel to Canada

The following may be issues relevant to travel to Canada:

• high level medical care is available where facilities are comparable to other industrialised countries
• HIV testing may be required before entry