Moderate riskAsia · South-Eastern AsiaThailand Travel Health Guide
Moderate risk
Thailand carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists primarily in border provinces with Burma, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
Compiled by Voyax Health from CDC Travelers' Health: Thailand. Editorial sections reviewed by Voyax Health pharmacists ·
Overall risk
Moderate risk
Malaria
Present
Best time to visit
November to February is cool and dry across most of the country. The rainy season (May to October) brings dengue peaks and rough seas on the Andaman coast.
Travel health in Thailand
Thailand is a low-stress destination medically: excellent private hospitals in Bangkok, pharmacies on every corner, and no malaria in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or the popular islands. The health work is about mosquitoes and food. Dengue is endemic year-round and peaks in the rainy season, and no vaccine is available to most travellers, so bite prevention is the core of the plan. Hepatitis A and typhoid cover the food and water risk, and rabies vaccination is worth discussing for long stays, rural travel or anyone likely to be around street dogs and temple monkeys.
Recommended vaccines
Routine Vaccines
Make sure all routine vaccines are up to date including chickenpox, tetanus, flu, MMR, polio, and shingles.
COVID-19
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines before traveling.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all travelers to Thailand. Infants 6-11 months should also get vaccinated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for travelers under 60. Those 60 and older may also consider vaccination.
Measles
Measles vaccination is recommended for all travelers due to rising cases worldwide. Infants 6-11 months should get an early dose.
Typhoid
Typhoid vaccine is recommended for most travelers to Thailand, especially if staying with friends/relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya vaccination may be considered if staying 6 months or longer due to elevated risk in Thailand.
Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for long-term stays (1+ month) or high-risk activities like rural travel, hiking, or staying in places without screens.
Rabies
Rabies pre-exposure vaccination should be considered based on your activities and access to medical care. Rabies vaccines are typically available throughout Thailand if needed after exposure.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever vaccine is not recommended for Thailand itself, but is required for entry if coming from countries with yellow fever risk, including airport layovers over 12 hours.
Cholera
Cholera vaccine is not recommended as there is no active cholera transmission in Thailand.
Disease risks
Malaria
Malaria risk exists primarily in border provinces with Burma, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Antimalarial medication is recommended for these high-risk border areas. Low risk in other parts of Thailand including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and popular islands.
Traveler's Diarrhea
All areas except Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket; high risk from street food in rural areas and Bangkok.
Malaria risk
Malaria risk is limited to certain areas. Whether you need antimalarial medication depends on your itinerary — see details.
Malaria risk exists primarily in border provinces with Burma, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Antimalarial medication is recommended for these high-risk border areas. Low risk in other parts of Thailand including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and popular islands.
Seasonal timing
When health risks peak through the year — plan around them.
Peak
May to October
Dengue
The most important illness for the typical visitor; thousands of cases a year. Aedes mosquitoes bite by day, so apply repellent in the morning, not just at dusk.
Peak
May to October
Japanese encephalitis
Rural rice-growing areas, mainly the north and northeast. Vaccination is for longer or repeated rural stays, not a two-week beach and city trip.
Peak
February to April (north)
Air pollution and burning season
Chiang Mai and the north see hazardous smoke from crop burning. Travellers with asthma or heart disease should plan accordingly.
Water & food safety
Water
Tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water is cheap and universal, and refill stations are common. Ice from restaurants and bars is generally factory-made and safe; ice hand-chipped from blocks in rural markets is not.
Food
Thai street food has a good safety record when it is cooked hot in front of you. The higher-risk items are pre-cut fruit sitting on ice, raw or undercooked seafood, and larb-style raw meat dishes. Wash hands or use sanitizer before eating with your hands.
Medications
Pharmacies stock a wide range of medications, and many that need a prescription in the US are sold over the counter. Quality is generally good in chain pharmacies. Bring your own controlled medications with documentation: Thailand restricts certain narcotics and psychotropics, and some require advance permission.
On the ground
Medical facilities
Bangkok's private hospitals (Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej) are among the best in Asia and serve international patients routinely. Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya have good private hospitals. Care on smaller islands is limited; serious cases are transferred to the mainland.
Travel insurance
Buy travel medical insurance with evacuation cover. Motorbike accidents are the leading cause of serious injury for visitors, and many policies exclude them unless you hold a motorcycle licence and wear a helmet.
Emergency numbers
Police
191
Medical / Ambulance
1669
Fire
199
Tourist Police
1155
U.S. Embassy
+66-2-205-4000
Thailand travel health FAQ
Do I need malaria pills for Thailand?▼
Usually not. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and the other main destinations have no malaria risk. Pills are advised only for rural forested areas along the borders with Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia, where atovaquone-proguanil or doxycycline are used because of mefloquine resistance.
Should I get the rabies vaccine before Thailand?▼
Consider it if you will be in rural areas, staying more than a month, cycling or running, or likely to be around temple monkeys and street dogs. Pre-exposure vaccination simplifies treatment after a bite because immune globulin is then not needed, and it can be hard to find outside Bangkok.
Is there a dengue vaccine for travellers to Thailand?▼
Not for most US travellers. The vaccines currently licensed are for people with a previous dengue infection or for residents of endemic areas. Prevention is repellent with DEET or picaridin, covering up, and air-conditioned or screened rooms.
More country guides
Brunei DarussalamLow riskBrunei Darussalam carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. No malaria risk. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B. Yellow fever vaccine not needed from US, but required if coming from countries with yellow fever risk or long layovers there
CambodiaModerate riskCambodia carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists primarily in rural and forested areas of Cambodia. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
Christmas IslandLow riskChristmas Island carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. No malaria risk. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
Plan your Thailand trip
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Build my Trip KitSources: CDC Travelers' Health: Thailand · WHO International Travel and Health. Last updated 2026-07-31. Health conditions and entry rules change — verify with the CDC, WHO and your destination’s authorities before travel. This page is informational and not a substitute for advice from a travel-medicine provider.