Health – Indonesia travel advice

Check the TravelHealthPro website for the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) at least 8 weeks before travel. Each country-specific page includes information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and fact sheets on staying healthy abroad. NHS (Scotland) guides are also available on the FitforTravel website.

General information on travel vaccinations and travel health checklists is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health advisor or pharmacy for advice on other precautions and managing any pre-existing conditions while you are abroad.

The legal status and regulations of certain medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK may differ in other countries. If you are travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicines, please read NaTHNaC’s guidance on best practices for travelling with medicines. For more information on the legal status of a specific drug, you will need to contact the embassy, ​​high commission or consulate in the country or territory you are visiting.

While travel can be enjoyable, it can also be challenging at times. There is a clear link between physical and mental health, so it’s important to take care of yourself when traveling and abroad. Our guidance page provides information on travelling with mental health issues. More information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).

medical treatement

Local medical standards may be poor and some medical tests cannot be performed reliably. Psychological and psychiatric services are also limited throughout Indonesia.

Good medical care can be very expensive, and attention for serious injury or illness may not be available in remote areas. You may have to spend up to tens of thousands of pounds for an expensive medical evacuation. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and funds available to cover any medical and repatriation costs abroad.

air quality

Air quality in major Indonesian cities could reach levels “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or “unhealthy”. Current air quality data for Jakarta can be found on the Air Quality Index website.

Ash plumes from volcanoes can affect air quality and affect health, especially for anyone with pre-existing respiratory conditions. If you were near an eruption and were affected by a subsequent fall of ash, you can find more information in digital booklets published by the International Volcanic Health Hazards Network (IVHHN), which cover the potential health hazards of volcanic ash and offer advice on how to prepare And deal with falling ashes.

During the dry season (May-November), widespread forest fires can cause smog, resulting in poor air quality in parts of Indonesia, particularly the Riau Islands, central Sumatra and Kalimantan. Smog can disrupt local and regional air travel, and air pollution can have public health impacts. Keep up-to-date with local information and seek medical advice on appropriate precautions. The Meteorological Service of Singapore provides regional haze maps.

health risk

Tap water throughout Indonesia is undrinkable.

In February 2019, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported two cases of genetically related circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) type 1 in Papua Province, Indonesia. This fact sheet on the TravelHealthPro website contains information on polio outbreaks and vaccination recommendations.

Dengue risk exists in Bali, Jakarta and other parts of Indonesia. While this is particularly prominent during the rainy season (usually from around October to April), localized outbreaks can occur at any time of the year.

UK health authorities have listed Indonesia as a risk of Zika virus transmission. For more information and advice, visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre website for travel to Indonesia-Borneo to Indonesia, including Bali.

Rabies is present in domestic and wild animals. There are many stray dogs in Bali and elsewhere. You should avoid direct contact with all dogs and cats (including pets), monkeys and other animals and seek immediate help if you are bitten or scratched.

If you need emergency medical assistance while traveling, please call 118 and ask for an ambulance. If you are referred to a medical facility for treatment, you should contact your insurance/medical assistance company immediately.

Avian Influenza (Avian Influenza)

Avian influenza has killed more than 150 people in Indonesia since 2003, although the annual incidence appears to be declining. So far, all cases have been linked to close contact with poultry.

While the risk of avian flu to humans is low, you should avoid live animal markets, poultry farms, and other places where you may have close contact with poultry, caged or wild birds, and ensure that poultry and egg dishes are cooked thoroughly.