Travel health

It is important to be prepared when travelling outside of Canada. Public Health does not offer travel advice. See Travel outside Canada for advise and advisories by destination.

Immunizations

Public Health no longer provides travel immunization services. Please contact your health care provider or a travel health clinic two to three months before you travel. Public Health does not maintain immunization records for individuals 18 years of age and older. Adults are encouraged to maintain their own immunization records. Visit immunization records and reporting  to access, view, and update immunization records.

Visit the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for information regarding travel-related diseases and immunization for travellers.

Food and water precautions

Related illnesses:

• hepatitis A
• travellers’ diarrhea
• typhoid

Best practices:

For the most up-to-date guidance and advice related to food and water precautions, please visit https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/food-water.

Food

• Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food.
• Never eat raw shellfish.
• Avoid unpasteurized milk products.
• Cook or bake fruit and vegetables that cannot be peeled or washed.
• Peel fruit yourself before eating.
• Avoid food served at room temperature
• Eat hot food while it is hot.
• Ensure food is well cooked.
• A good rule to follow: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

Water

• Drink boiled water, commercially bottled water, or carbonated beverages.
• Make sure the seals on the bottles are not broken.
• Use ice cubes made from disinfected water.
• Brush teeth with bottled water.
• Wash food with bottled water.
• Unclean water can make you sick if you swallow (or inhale it) while bathing, showering or swimming. Try not to get any water in your nose or mouth.

Insect precautions

Insect bite prevention will help protect you from many possible insect-related illnesses such as:

• West Nile virus
• dengue fever
• yellow fever
• Japanese encephalitis
• Lyme disease
• malaria

Alcohol consumption

Make informed decisions about your health by following Canada’s guidance on alcohol and health (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction) while on vacation or travelling. Consider the amount of alcohol you consume. Binge drinking is drinking 5 or more alcoholic beverages on one occasion. It can lead to risky decisions, injuries, alcohol poisoning, and other negative health effects. Remember, for your health, less alcohol is better.

Safe sex

Bring condoms with you when travelling and use them every time. Don’t rely on being able to purchase condoms; condoms vary around the world, as does the ability to purchase them. Women should bring enough birth control to ensure that they are protected for the duration of the trip. Safe sex involves more than using condoms and birth control. Make smart decisions about your sexual encounters.

Hand hygiene

Proper handwashing is the best defence against becoming ill or spreading illness. If soap and water are not available to wash your hands, use an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. If your hands are visibly soiled, use moist towelettes to remove the dirt, then use hand sanitizer.

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This item was last modified on March 25, 2025