North and Central America and Caribbean

You should be aware that public medical facilities in Honduras are limited and health insurance is required. You should carry evidence of your insurance at all times and use private clinics where possible. 

 

Standards of treatment vary in Honduras. State-funded hospitals are under-funded and medicines are in short supply. Health insurance is required and you should carry evidence of your insurance at all times. You should use private clinics where possible, though these are only available in major towns.

Malaria is common in remote, low-lying parts of the country.  Dengue fever is common to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year.  The highest number of cases in Honduras is usually during the hot season from May to November.

 

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Honduras you should seek immediate medical attention.

 

There is a fully operable hyperbaric decompression chamber on Roatan and there are decompression facilitates on the Bay Island of Utila.  However, you should be aware that medical facilities on the Bay Islands are extremely limited in the event of an emergency.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 26,000 adults aged 15 or over in Honduras 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 Honduras 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 Health 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 the UK Department of Health.  You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice.