A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming into China from infected areas. There is a risk of malaria throughout the low-lying areas of the country, and it is recommended that travellers to China seek medical advice about malaria before departure. There is also a risk of dengue fever (also transmitted by mosquito) so travellers must take precautions against insect bites. A total of 18 human cases of avian influenza ('bird flu') have been reported from China since November 2005. Travellers are extremely unlikely to be affected by bird flu, but contact with live poultry should be avoided. All poultry and egg dishes should also be thoroughly cooked. Vaccinations are recommended against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies. Polio has resurfaced in areas of China so be sure to be up to date on immunisations. A variant of hand, foot and mouth disease, an intestinal virus, has also been prevalent since 2008, with children being at particular risk. There is no vaccination for the disease but if careful personal hygiene in maintained it should not be a problem. Outside city centres, visitors should only drink bottled water. There is a generally high standard of health care in major Chinese cities but it is not provided free of charge so make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance.

View information on diseases:

Dengue Fever, HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Japanese encephalitis, Malaria, Rabies, SARS