Destination Indonesia
Health and Safety
Destination Asia Indonesia recommends that travelers visit their physician 4-6 weeks prior to departure to receive up to date information regarding vaccinations and health risks. As a general guide, we do recommend the following precautions prior to travel:
- Hepatitis A & B
- Recommended for all travelers
- Typhoid
- For travelers who may eat or drink outside major restaurants and hotels
- Polio
- One-time booster recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult
- Yellow fever
- Required for all travelers greater than one year of age arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas. Not recommended otherwise.
- Japanese encephalitis
- For long-term (>1 month) travelers to rural areas or travelers who may engage in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially after dusk
- Rabies
- For travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, or at high risk for animal bites, or involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given
- Tetanus-diphtheria
- Revaccination recommended every 10 years
The most common complaint from travelers to Indonesia is ‘travelers diarrhea’. Most cases are mild and do not require either antibiotics or anti-diarrheal drugs, but it is absolutely important to maintain an adequate fluid intake.
If diarrhea is severe or bloody, if fever occurs with shaking chills, if abdominal pain becomes marked, or if diarrhea persists for more than 72 hours, medical attention should be sought.
Though effective, antibiotics are not recommended prophylactically (i.e. to prevent diarrhea before it occurs) because of the risk of adverse effects, though this approach may be warranted in special situations, such as immuno-compromised travelers.
When in Bali, we recommend either of the following excellent facility:
| Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) | Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai 100X Kuta Bali Tel: (0361)761.263 Email: info@bimcbali.com |
For travelers on other islands, we recommend you to contact your guide, who can advise you on the best medical treatment in the area.
Remember also that in the tropics it is very easy to get sunburnt in a short time. We strongly recommend that you always take necessary precautions to protect you and your family’s skin. For even the most dedicated ‘tanner’, a tube of sunscreen is often an invaluable ally.
For those of you on Malaria medication, please bear in mind that some medications can make you sun sensitive, so extra care will need to be taken when in the sun.
