Nepal - health - Countries Guide

Vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, meningitis, rabies and typhoid are recommended. Travellers arriving from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Altitude sickness is a real risk for trekkers. There is a risk of malaria between June and September in the low-lying areas including Chitwan National Park, but not in the common trekking areas. Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis occur annually, particularly between July and December; vaccination is advised. Cholera outbreaks occur and food and water precautions should be followed. Untreated water should be avoided; visitors can buy bottled water or purify their own. When trekking it is preferable to treat river water rather than leaving a trail of plastic bottles behind. Purifying water with iodine is the cheapest and easiest way to treat water. Stomach upsets are likely to be the most common cause of illness in travellers to Nepal; food in tourist restaurants or 'Western' food should be treated with caution as it is often reheated or left to stand out, and drinks or salads can contain ice or have ingredients washed in dirty water. Many trekkers may suffer from altitude sickness above 8,202ft (2,500m); if symptoms persist it is wise to descend as quickly as possible. Standard of care in hospitals varies, but there are traveller's clinics in Kathmandu and numerous pharmacies in the major towns. Medical insurance is essential, which should include air evacuation.
Cities & Regions: Pokhara | Himalayas | Kathmandu