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Cambodia
Health
A
yellow fever vaccination certificate
is required by travellers arriving
within 10 days from infected areas.
Food and Drink
All water should be regarded as
being potentially contaminated.
Water for drinking, brushing teeth
or making ice should first be boiled
or otherwise sterilised. Bottled
water is widely available. Milk is
unpasteurised and should be boiled.
Powdered or tinned milk is available
and is advised. Avoid dairy products
which are likely to have been made
from unboiled milk. Only eat
well-cooked meat and fish.
Vegetables should be cooked and
fruit peeled.
Other Risks
Cholera may be a serious risk in
this country and precautions are
essential. Up-to-date advice should
be sought before deciding whether
these precautions should include
vaccination.
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is
present; avoid swimming and paddling
in fresh water. Giardiasis,
dysentery, typhoid fever and dengue
fever are common throughout
Cambodia. Hepatitis B is
hyperendemic. Japanese encephalitis
occurs in rural areas from May to
November and is relatively common in
the highlands, where there are rice
fields and pigs, as both are needed
for the disease to occur. The
vaccine is only usually given for
people travelling in rural areas for
four weeks or more.
Epidemics of avian influenza (bird
flu) were reported in Asia in 2004
and again in 2005, and some human
cases were confirmed. Visitors
should avoid bird farms or markets,
where contact with poultry might
occur.
HIV/AIDS is endemic and safe sex
practices are essential.
Health Care
Health insurance, including
emergency evacuation, is absolutely
essential. Doctors and hospitals
expect cash payments for any medical
treatment. The cost of medical
evacuation is high. The hospital in
Phnom Penh is reliable. It is
suggested that any visitors bring
adequate supplies of any essential
personal medication, since that
medication may not be available in
Cambodia.
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