Risk / Health Info for Sri Lanka

Global Travel Clinics can help you work out what vaccinations you need to go to Sri Lanka. Hepatitis A and typhoid inoculations are recommended if you are going to Sri Lanka because the water is not considered safe for visitors to drink. Boiled or bottled water is safest for drinking and teeth brushing. Hot tea is also an alternative safe drink.

Consider getting vaccines against rabies and Japanese encephalitis before your trip to Sri Lanka.

Tuberculosis is endemic in Sri Lanka. To avoid contracting this airborne bacterial infection you should stay away from people with active tuberculosis and drink only pasteurised milk.

Leishmaniasis, an infection contracted from sand-fly bites, is common in Sri Lanka. Birdwatchers, adventure travellers and anyone engaging in night-time outdoor activities is at risk. Treating clothing with permethrin can help prevent bites.

The capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, has poor air quality so if you have asthma or another respiratory condition you should take precautions.

Emergency medical care in Sri Lanka is limited apart from in the capital Colombo. Remember that repatriation or evacuation can be very expensive, so you should have good travel health insurance in place if you are visiting Sri Lanka. The emergency number in Sri Lanka is 011 2691111.

There were 77,222 cases of dengue fever in Sri Lanka between January and June 2017 and 55,150 cases in 2016. That’s an increase of 22,000 cases. Outbreaks of this mosquito-borne disease are frequent in Sri Lanka and you should protect yourself against bites by wearing light-coloured clothing that provides good coverage.

Altitude in Sri Lanka

Parts of Sri Lanka are higher than 2,400m, and travellers planning to spend time at a high altitude should take steps to protect themselves against the potentially life-threatening acute mountain sickness. Your healthcare provider can help with this.

Dengue fever in Sri Lanka

There have been cases of the mosquito-borne virus dengue fever in Sri Lanka. Dengue fever is also known as breakbone fever because of the severe bone, joint and muscular pains it causes, in addition to flu-like fever and headache. There is no vaccine for dengue fever. Avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents (50% DEET) and by wearing protective clothing. Sleeping with mosquito nets is also recommended.

Malaria in Sri Lanka

Malaria prophylaxis will be required for some parts of Sri Lanka at certain times of year. There is no malaria vaccine, but there are anti-malaria drugs that should be taken before, during and after travelling to certain at-risk countries. Speak with your healthcare provider six weeks before your trip, as not all prophylaxis regimes are appropriate for all regions and all individuals.