Risk / Health Info for Mongolia

If you are wondering about injections to go to Mongolia, then your healthcare advisor at Global Travel Clinics can help you.

Hepatitis A and typhoid are two unpleasant GI illnesses and getting shots will allow you to relax and enjoy your trip. You can get a combined vaccine for hepatitis A and typhoid. The typhoid vaccine is available in an oral form, which is good news for anyone who dislikes injections. Both diseases can be contracted through contaminated food and one tip for travellers to Mongolia is to opt for tea when offered refreshment, as the water will have been boiled.

Hepatitis B is more serious than hep A and is recommended for some groups of travellers. These include children, frequent and long-stay travellers as well as those who will be working in a healthcare setting, including dentistry or in a lab that handles bodily fluids. Hep B is also contracted through recreational intravenous drug use and unprotected sex. There is a combined shot for hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

Between late spring and early autumn, it is possible to contract tick-borne encephalitis in Mongolia. Infection can lead to permanent neurological damage. If you will be working in agriculture or going camping, mountain biking or walking you should consider getting vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. A few cases are thought to have been contracted from drinking infected milk: think very carefully before drinking or eating unpasteurised dairy products.

Will I be able to obtain my normal medications in Mongolia?

Carry basic supplies with you as the quality of local medical items is low, and counterfeit medications have been spotted in Mongolia.

What are the medical facilities like in Mongolia?

The standard of healthcare can be patchy, particularly outside the capital Ulaanbaatar, and you may have to pay before you receive any treatment. If you need an ambulance, the emergency number in Mongolia is 103.

How can I protect my health in Mongolia?

Mongolia has a nickname the Land of Blue Skies which was given because there are so many days of sunshine in the year, so invest in good sunblock, sunglasses and a sunhat.

The air quality can be bad in the capital Ulaanbaatar, particularly in winter so take precautions if you have asthma or another respiratory condition.

Altitude in Mongolia

Parts of Mongolia 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.