Iceland : Travel Health

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

Researching Travel Plans

Please note that this health information about Iceland may be out-of-date.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

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

• travelers’ diarrhea
• cholera
• Escherichia coli diarrhea
• hepatitis A
• typhoid fever
• Insect born diseases
• parasitic diseases
• plague - risk for travelers is small
• toxoplasmosis
• hepatitis B
• Lyme disease

More Common Diseases and Medical Concerns for Iceland

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

• motor vehicle trauma - wear seatbelts and avoid night driving
• burns from geyser sprays or hot mud

Uncommon or Rare Diseases and Medical Concerns for Iceland

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

• yellow fever - no risk although vaccination certificate may be required if coming from an infected area
• malaria - no current risk

Vaccinations for Travel to Iceland

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

• hepatitis A - or immune globulin (IG)
• hepatitis B - If you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through medical treatment.
• As needed, booster doses for tetanus, diphtheria

Preventions or Health Precautions for Travel to Iceland

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

• Never eat undercooked ground beef and poultry, raw eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products - risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease [nvCJD]
• high rate of motor vehicle trauma - avoid night driving and wear seatbelts
• mosquito bite prevention
• insect bite protection
• avoid drinking non-treated water - only drink bottled or canned water
• eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself
• to prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot
• always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
• although risk of infection is low, don’t eat food purchased from street vendors
• don’t drink beverages with ice
• don’t share needles with anyone
• don’t handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague - risk for travelers is small)
• use sunblock and take sunglasses and a hat
• Earthquakes may occur - take care and heed local precautions
• volcanic eruptions may occur - take care and heed local precautions
• violent storms may occur - take care and heed local precautions
• avalanches may occur - take care and heed local precautions
• nature attractions e.g. geysers, waterfalls, glaciers etc may not be well signed to indicate dangers, high winds and icy conditions can exacerbate these dangers - exercise extreme care when visiting these locations

Other Relevant Issues for Travel to Iceland

The following may be issues relevant to travel to Iceland:

• high level medical care where facilities are comparable to other industrialised countries is available in Rekjavik
• adequate medical care is available in other areas but may not to the standards of industrialized countries because of remoteness