Portugal : Travel Health

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

Researching Travel Plans

Please note that this health information about Portugal may be out-of-date.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

The following medical diseases or health concerns are more common in travel to Portugal (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 Portugal

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

• motor vehicle trauma - wear seatbelts and avoid night driving
• corals
• jellyfish and other marine life may cause injury in coastal waters - identify dangers before visiting these areas

Uncommon or Rare Diseases and Medical Concerns for Portugal

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

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

Vaccinations for Travel to Portugal

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

• 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 Portugal

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

• 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
• 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

Other Relevant Issues for Travel to Portugal

The following may be issues relevant to travel to Portugal:

• high level medical care where facilities are comparable to other industrialised countries is available in major cities
• adequate medical care is available throughout the rest of the country but not to the standards of industrialized countries