Travel Vaccines and Advice for Sri Lanka

• Typhoid – Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi, is a serious illness transmitted through contaminated food and water. Prevention strategies include vaccination as well as practicing strict hygiene and safe food handling.
• Hepatitis A – Contagious hepatitis A, caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), spreads through contaminated food, water, or close contact. Prevention involves vaccination and practicing good hygiene, particularly when traveling to high-risk areas.
• Japanese Encephalitis – Japanese encephalitis is a viral brain infection spread by mosquito bites, mainly in rural parts of Asia. It can cause neurological damage and is potentially fatal. The Japanese encephalitis vaccine, given in a series of injections, effectively prevents the disease by stimulating the immune system to produce protective antibodies against the virus.
• Rabies – Rabies is a deadly viral disease affecting mammals, including humans, primarily transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals. Vaccination is key to preventing rabies, with pre-exposure shots effectively preventing infection.
• Hepatitis B – Hepatitis B prevention relies on vaccination as the most effective measure, recommended for all travelers and critical for healthcare workers. Practicing safe sex and using sterile equipment for body modifications are also key in reducing transmission risks.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) – Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) are viral infections with distinct symptoms. They spread through respiratory droplets and close contact. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent MMR infections, with the MMR vaccine offering protection against all three diseases.

Mosquitoes on the island spread Zika, and sand flies carry leishmaniasis in some areas. Bug bite prevention is the only real defense against.

Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535, and reapply it throughout the day. Wear long sleeves and pants when you can, and treat clothing and gear with permethrin before you leave. Sand flies are smaller than mosquitoes and can slip through a loosely woven bed net. A fine-mesh net matters if you are staying somewhere rustic without air conditioning or window screens.

CDC packing guidance for Sri Lanka also flags malaria as a risk in some parts of the country, though the destination does not currently carry a dedicated malaria prevention recommendation. If your itinerary includes rural travel, a Passport Health travel specialist can help you decide whether antimalarial medication is worth adding to your plan.

Travelers’ diarrhea, hepatitis A and typhoid are the most common food and water related risks in Sri Lanka. All three spread through what you eat and drink.

Stick to bottled or properly treated water, and skip ice unless you know it was made from purified water. Use bottled water to brush your teeth. Heavy rains can flood streets and fields, and wading through that floodwater or handling contaminated soil raises your risk for illness. Rinse off and cover any cuts or scrapes after contact with either.

Food should be served hot and fully cooked. Skip raw vegetables and fruit you have not peeled yourself, and be cautious with unpasteurized dairy and dishes that sit out at room temperature. Street food in Sri Lanka is popular and often delicious, but stalls with high turnover and visibly clean prep areas are the safer bet.

Passport Health offers the hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines recommended for most travelers to Sri Lanka, along with guidance on avoiding travelers’ diarrhea while you are there.

Altitude sickness, or acute mountain sickness (AMS), stems from inadequate oxygen at high elevations, causing symptoms like headaches and nausea. Preventing AMS involves gradual ascent, hydration, and potential medication use. Should AMS symptoms develop, swift descent to lower altitudes, rest, and medical evaluation are essential for recovery and safety.

• Dengue – Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, dengue is a year-round risk across Sri Lanka. Watch for high fever, joint pain or a rash during or after your trip, and see a doctor right away if symptoms appear.
• Hantavirus – This virus spreads through contact with rodent droppings, urine or saliva, often by breathing in contaminated dust in enclosed spaces. Avoid sleeping in rodent-infested buildings and don’t handle or feed wild rodents during rural stays.
• Leishmaniasis – It is spread by the bite of an infected sand fly. It can cause skin sores that are slow to heal or more serious internal illness. Sand fly nets have finer mesh than standard mosquito nets.
• Leptospirosis – This bacterial infection spreads through contact with fresh water, soil or food contaminated by infected animal urine. It is one of two food and water related risks the CDC flags for Sri Lanka. Flooding after heavy rain raises exposure. Avoid wading through floodwater, and cover any open cuts before you are near it.
• Melioidosis – Found in soil and fresh water, melioidosis spreads through skin contact, inhaling contaminated dust or drinking contaminated water. Heavy rain increases the risk. It is the second food and water borne illness on the CDC list for Sri Lanka. Bandage any open cuts or scrapes before contact with soil or standing water after storms.
• Tuberculosis (TB) – TB spreads through the air when someone with an active infection coughs, speaks or sings. Long stays or extended time in crowded indoor spaces, like hospitals, carry the highest exposure risk for travelers.
• Zika – Zika spreads mainly through mosquito bites. An infected pregnant traveler can pass the virus to their unborn baby, which can cause serious birth defects. Anyone who is pregnant or might become pregnant should talk to a doctor before traveling to Sri Lanka.