Mexico Health and Medical: Disease Risks and Prevention
Diseases of concern in Mexico include dengue, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, filariasis, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness), and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease). Vaccinations can protect you against some of these, listed under Immunizations below. For others, no vaccine exists; protective measures appear under Precautions.
Altitude Sickness
In high-altitude areas such as Mexico City (elevation), most people need a short adjustment period. Symptoms of reaction to high altitude include a lack of energy, shortness of breath, occasional dizziness, headache, and insomnia. Those with heart problems should consult their doctor before traveling.
Air pollution
Air pollution in Mexico City and Guadalajara is severe, especially from December to May, and combined with high altitude could affect travelers with underlying respiratory problems.
Water Pollution
The quality of water along some beaches in or near Acapulco or other large coastal communities may be unsafe for swimming because of contamination. Swimming in contaminated water may cause diarrhea and/or other illnesses. Mexican government agencies monitor water quality in public beach areas, but their standards and sampling techniques may not always be up to a high standard. Many cases of roundworms (see Precautions below) have been reported from the Acapulco area.
See a Doctor Before You Travel
Visit a travel medicine specialist, or a doctor familiar with travel medicine, at least a month before your trip.
Recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control are below, but appropriate vaccines and medicines depend on many factors that are specific to each person. Inform your doctor:
- Where you are traveling within a country
- The length of your trip
- What types of activities you might do
- Other personal matters such as your age, medical and vaccine history, and current medical state
Many hospitals and many county health departments have a Travel Medicine office. A directory of private travel clinics is available at the International Society of Travel Medicine, www.istm.org.
Immunizations
| Required: none | |
| Recommended | |
| Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) | Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviors. |
|---|---|
| Hepatitis B | Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission, especially those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident). |
| Typhoid | Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in Mexico and Central America, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water. |
| Rabies | Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking. Also recommended for travelers with significant occupational risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites. |
| Routine | Before traveling, update any vaccinations you would normally receive, such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine. |
COVID-19 Information
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the disease and how the virus spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1 meter (3 feet) apart from others, wearing a properly fitted mask, and washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently. Vaccinations also are available from healthcare providers.
The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing, or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. It is important to practice respiratory etiquette, for example by coughing into a flexed elbow and staying home to self-isolate if feeling unwell.
Entry and Exit Requirements
Are there COVID-related entry requirements?
No, however, travelers may be asked to complete health screenings such as temperature checks. Those exhibiting symptoms may be subject to an additional health screening and/or quarantine. They may experience significant delays and face the possibility of being quarantined in Mexico or returned to their country of origin.
Is a negative COVID-19 test required for entry?
No
Precautions
| Malaria | |
|---|---|
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In Mexico, malaria is limited to areas infrequently visited by travelers, including small foci along the Guatemala and Belize borders in the state of Quintana Roo and small foci along the Guatemala border in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco; rural areas in the states of Nayarit, Oaxaca, and Sinaloa; and in an area between 24° and 28°N latitude, and 106° and 110°W longitude, which lies in parts of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Durango. No malaria along the United States-Mexico border and in the major resorts along the Pacific and Gulf coasts. If you will be visiting an area of Mexico with malaria, you will need to discuss with your doctor the best ways for you to avoid getting sick with malaria. Ways to prevent malaria include the following:
Primaquine is the preferred antimalarial drug (only after G6PD testing) in Mexico. Atovaquone/proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, and mefloquine are alternative choices. |
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| Dengue, Filariasis, Leishmaniasis, Onchocerciasis, Chagas disease, and Myiasis (botfly) | |
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To prevent insect bites:
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| Food- and water-borne illness | |
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Eggs, meat, unpasteurized cheese, and seafood are common sources of the bacteria that can cause travelers' diarrhea. Observe food safety practices:
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| Fungal and parasitic infections | |
| Keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot, especially on beaches where animals may have defecated. | |
| HIV and other infections | |
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Pack a Travel Health Kit
A travel health kit serves three purposes: to manage any pre-existing conditions, prevent illnesses related to traveling, and take care of minor health matters.
When packing medications for travel, remember the following considerations.
- Original containers: All medications should be carried in their original containers with clear labels, so the contents are easily identified. Although many travelers like placing medications into small containers or packing them in the daily-dose containers, officials at ports of entry may require proper identification of medications.
- Prescriptions: Travelers should carry copies of all prescriptions, including their generic names.
- Physician notes: For controlled substances and injectable medications, travelers are advised to carry a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationery.
- Restricted medications: Travelers should be aware that certain medications are not permitted in certain countries. If there is a question about these restrictions, particularly with controlled substances, travelers are recommended to contact the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
- Availability: A travel health kit is useful only when it is available. It should be carried with the traveler at all times (e.g., in a carry-on bag). Due to airline security rules, sharp objects and some liquids and gels must remain in checked luggage.
Sources: World Health Organization; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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