Asia and Oceania

If you have an unstable medical condition you should seriously consider not travelling to Laos. Medical care in Vientiane is extremely basic and outside the capital there are no reliable facilities to deal with medical emergencies. Medical evacuation is difficult to organise and very expensive.

Dengue and malaria occur in Laos. These diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes. 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.

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

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 5,400 adults aged 15 or over in Laos were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.2% 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 Laos 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) or 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.

A (H1N1) - swine flu

The World Health Organisation (WHO) pandemic threat alert phase has been raised to Level 6. There are confirmed human cases or Influenza A (H1N1) - Swine Flu in Laos. The WHO website has further details. You should to monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu is available on the UK Department of Health website.

Avian influenza (bird flu)

There have been outbreaks of avian influenza (also known as bird flu) in poultry in Laos, most recently in February 2009. The only two human fatalities in Laos occurred in March 2007.

 

The risk to humans from avian influenza is believed to be very low. However, 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.

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the avian influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if a virus mutates to a form which is easily transmissible between people.

 

British nationals living longer term in an avian influenza-affected region should take personal responsibility for their own safety in the event of a future pandemic, including considering their access to adequate healthcare and ensuring travel documents are up to date.

 

You should read this advice in conjunction with avian and pandemic influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.