Important Health Information

Before traveling to Central America, make sure you are up to date with all the recommended vaccines. Ask about routine immunizations when talking to a health professional about your trip. At the same time, find out about the medicines you might need for your destination. Other important ways to stay healthy and avoid diseases:

• Pregnant women should not travel to an area where there is a risk of Zika virus infection. The Zika virus is spread mainly by the bite of an infected mosquito of the Aedes species.
• Pregnant women, even without symptoms, can pass the Zika virus to the developing fetus during pregnancy, or near the time of delivery. In addition, a person who is infected with the Zika virus can transmit it on to their sexual partners. There is no vaccine to prevent Zika virus infection.
• Be careful what you eat and drink.
• Insects (including mosquitoes, ticks and some flies) can transmit several diseases. Use insect repellent and protect yourself from insect bites.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  Do not touch animals, particularly monkeys, dogs and birds

Recommended vaccines

• Yellow Fever. MANDATORY. Yellow fever virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa. Find out if yellow fever vaccine is needed at your destination and plan ahead to get it.
• Tetanus – Diphtheria – Whooping Cough. RECOMMENDED. Regardless of taking a trip.
• Viral Triple (measles, rubella, mumps). RECOMMENDED. Regardless of taking a trip.
• Hepatitis A. RECOMMENDED. Regardless of taking a trip.
• Hepatitis B. RECOMMENDED IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS.
• Typhoid Fever. RECOMMENDED IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS.
• Rabies. RECOMMENDED IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS.
• Flu. RECOMMENDED IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS.
• Pneumococcal. RECOMMENDED IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS.

Hospitals

Here is a list of the most important hospitals in Central America.