In advance of any trip to the Philippines, you should first seek out your own government’s website for health security and up to date travel advice.

With the exception of Yellow Fever, for those travelling from an infected area, there are no vaccinations required as a condition of entry into the Philippines. However the decision to avoid recommended medical precautions should be either based on Medical advice from your practitioner or the personal acceptance of risk.

If planning to travel without medical protection, it may also be prudent to check for pre-qualifying conditions with regard to ignoring medical advice in your travel insurance policy.

Currently recommended vaccinations for the Philippines are Adult diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella), Polio, Typhoid, and Varicella (chickenpox). If your stay will exceed a month additional vaccinations for Japanese B Encephalitis, Meningitis, Rabies and Tuberculosis are also recommended.

Assuming good personal hygiene, most travellers will not encounter medical difficulties, but the most likely ailment, as with all foreign travel, is diarrhoea, the best countermeasure for which is good hydration, also important in preventing heatstroke. Sunscreen is also essential.

Cuts and grazes should be kept clean, with antiseptic applied to prevent infection.

Visitors should avoid drinking tap water and water from the wild, and should use only bottled water, even for brushing teeth. In common with many other parts of the world, it pays to examine the bottle-top seals, to ensure bottles have not been re-filled by unscrupulous traders.

Aside from using a mosquito repellent to limit the potential of Malayria or Dengue Fever, it should also be noted that snakes are very common in the Philippines and, if wandering through scrubland or trekking in wild land, it is a wise precaution to boots and long trousers. If taking anti-malarial medication, please note that Chloroquine is ineffective in the Philippines.