Asia and Oceania

Routine medical advice and treatment can be obtained in Rangoon and Mandalay, but elsewhere you should not assume that competent advice and treatment is available. Up-front cash payment is often required prior to receiving medical treatment in Burma. Intrusive examinations, including emergency dental work, should be avoided due to irregular hygiene standards and the danger of infection, particularly by hepatitis B and C and HIV/AIDS.

Dengue and malaria occur in Burma.  Mosquitoes transmit these diseases. There are no vaccinations against these diseases, but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website. You should visit your GP to discuss malaria prevention tablets.

Poor sanitation and eating contaminated food can increase the risk of diarrhoeal illnesses. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Burma, you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 240,000 adults aged 15 or over in Burma were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.7% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Burma and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47

 

For more general health information see travel health and for food/drink hygiene see eat and drink safely.

A (H1N1) - Swine Flu

There have been confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) in Burma. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase is at Level 6.  The WHO website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website, and Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in domestic poultry in Burma (most recently in December 2007). There have been no confirmed human deaths in Burma, but a case of Avian Influenza infecting a human was confirmed in December 2007.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low.  As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.