Asia and Oceania

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Health

Emergency medical treatment in Sri Lanka is not easily available outside main cities, and you may have to be brought to Colombo for treatment. Medical facilities are not always of a standard expected in the UK, particularly outside Colombo. Treatment in private hospitals can be expensive and the options for repatriation to the UK or neighbouring countries in an emergency are limited and very expensive.

Various mosquito borne diseases, such as Dengue fever, Chikungunya and Malaria are common to Sri Lanka.  The number of cases of dengue fever in particular has risen sharply so far this year. You are also advised to avoid stray animals, as rabies is also prevalent.  There was a confirmed outbreak of Leptospirosis (rat fever) in 2008.

In the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 5,000 adults aged 15 or over in Sri Lanka were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at less than 0.1% 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.

A (H1N1) - Swine Flu

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6.  The WHO website at: www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html as further details.  You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been no reported cases of Avian Influenza (also known as Bird Flu) in Sri Lanka during the current series of outbreaks.  But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed cases elsewhere in the region. You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Sri Lanka 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.