Cambodia

Recommended Vaccinations For Cambodia

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country. Therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country. Therefore, vaccination is recommended. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against the disease.

For Some Travellers

Cholera Vaccine

The U.K. NaTHNaC recommends the oral cholera vaccine for some travellers whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, travelling to areas of active cholera transmission. These risk factors include: aid workers; those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to potable water and medical care; travellers for whom the vaccination would be considered potentially beneficial, such as chronic medical conditions. The U.S. CDC recommends the cholera vaccine for travellers who are 18-64 years of age and who plan to travel to areas of active cholera transmission. CDC notes that most travellers do not travel to areas of active cholera transmission, and that safe food and water practices can prevent many cholera infections.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is recommended for travellers to endemic areas during Japanese encephalitis virus transmission season if their itinerary or activities will increase their risk (e.g. spending substantial time outdoors in rural or agricultural areas; staying in accommodations without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets.)

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) should be administered to infants 6 to 11 months old prior to international travel.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine

BCG vaccine is recommended to all unvaccinated adults, and children under 16 years of age, staying in the country for more than 3 months. A tuberculin skin test is required prior to administering vaccination for all children from 6 years of age.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

There is no risk of yellow fever in this country. This country requires all persons 1 year of age and older to have proof of the yellow fever vaccination if travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, including transiting more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities and rural areas.

Recommended Medications For Cambodia

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Travellers to Cambodia should consider anti-malaria medication unless only visiting Phnom Penh, areas close to Lake Tonle Sap, and the temple complex at Angkor Wat. For the western provinces of Cambodia bordering Thailand, atovaquone/proguanil or doxycycline are recommended. Anti-malaria drug resistance is present for chloroquine in the rest of Cambodia. The recommended medication includes atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Cambodia

For Most Travellers

Cholera

Cholera occurs in this country.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever outbreaks occur regularly in Cambodia, and the risk to travellers is significant.

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Cambodia.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Cambodia through contaminated food or water. Infection can still occur at tourist destinations and resorts.

For Some Travellers

Measles

There is a risk of acquiring measles in the country.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring hantavirus in Cambodia through contaminated food or coming into contact with a person infected with the virus

Scrub Typhus

Scrub typhus, also known as Tsutsugamushi fever, occurs occasionally in Cambodia.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to Cambodia are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting ill friends or family or working in the health care field.

Zika Fever

Zika virus can occur in this country.

Yellow Fever

There is no risk of yellow fever in this country. This country requires all persons 1 year of age and older to have proof of the yellow fever vaccination if travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, including transiting more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis occurs throughout all of Cambodia. The risk for travellers of contracting Japanese encephalitis is low, but extensive outdoor activity in rural areas will increase this risk.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in Cambodia. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Cambodia. The risk is higher when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Malaria

Malaria risk exists throughout the year in all forested rural areas, including coastal areas. Phnom Penh and areas close to Tonle Sap (Siem Reap) are not at risk. Risk within the tourist area of Angkor Wat is negligible. Mefloquine medication resistance is widespread in the western provinces of Cambodia bordering Thailand.

Schistosomiasis

This disease is present in this country and is acquired through contact with fresh water, such as swimming, bathing, or rafting. Well-chlorinated swimming pools and contact with saltwater in oceans or seas will not put travellers at risk for schistosomiasis.

Safety & Security in Cambodia

Personal Safety

Most travellers have no trouble in Cambodia. Violent crime is rare. Petty crime, however, does occur and there have been some reports of armed robbery against foreigners. Street crime and assaults targeting tourists occur most frequently in urban areas such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville (particularly in the Boeung Keng Kang area). Be particularly cautious around the waterfront, Tonle Bassac and BBK areas in Phnom Penh, and also the tourist areas of Sihanoukville. Street crime targeting foreigners, including pick-pocketing, is common in urban areas.

Always take precautions for your personal safety and be alert in your surroundings. Keep valuables secure and out of sight, and avoid showing signs of wealth. Safeguard your important documents, such as your passport. Exercise caution at night and avoid walking alone at night. Do not accept drinks or food from strangers and never leave your drinks out of your sight.

Thieves on motorcycles will sometimes grab bags and other valuables while passing pedestrians on the street. Banditry can occur, mostly at night, in rural areas and on routes between Kratie, Snoul, and Stung Treng in the northeastern provinces. Some foreigners have encountered difficulties with police and military personnel.

Cambodia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Landmines are still found in rural areas of Cambodia, especially the border area with Thailand, Siem Reap (excluding the town of Siem Reap and the Angkor temples), Battambang, Kampong Thom, Banteay Meanchey, and Pursat provinces. Do not visit outlying temples, particularly in Phnom Kulen and the River of a Thousand Lingas. Never leave roads or walk in forested areas or in dry rice paddies without a local guide. Always follow warning signs and do not touch any unknown objects.

There are modesty laws at some religious sites. Visitors must cover their knees and shoulders. There is an official code of conduct for visitors to Angkor Wat. If you are not dressed appropriately, you may not be admitted to the sites.

Same-sex sexual relations are legal in Cambodia and the social acceptance of LGBTI people is growing.

Exercise caution when driving as road conditions may be extremely poor and may not be well marked or lit. Reckless driving and traffic congestion also contributes to a high risk of road accidents.

Exercise caution when travelling by boat or participating in adventure activities as safety standards may be poor and boats are often targets for gangs. Also, avoid train travel due to low rail safety.

The rainy season in Cambodia is between July and November. During this time, flooding, landslides, damage to infrastructure and disruption to travel plans may result.

Extreme Violence

While there is no recent history of terrorism in Cambodia, attacks cannot be ruled out. Such attacks could be indiscriminate and can occur in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers. A few number of grenade/bomb attacks along with shooting incidents have been reported in some parts of the country. Cambodian authorities have also stopped planned bomb attacks in the last decade.

Political Unrest

Some political protests have turned violent in the past. To minimize safety risk, avoid all public gatherings or demonstrations. Political rallies and disputes often take place at short or no notice and have the potential to trigger violence. Local police and security forces have occasionally responded with force and may not distinguish between demonstrators and bystanders. Foreigners participating in such demonstrations and engaging in filming or photographing them may also be arrested and deported.

Areas To Avoid

Avoid travelling to the Preah Vihear temple area and border region as this is disputed territory between Cambodia and Thailand. Due to heightened criminal activity, non-essential travel should also be avoided to Sihanoukville as well as in the vicinity of the Special Economic Zone. Violent clashes have occurred in the area, resulting in many casualties. Land mines and unexploded ordnance are found in parts of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, and Kampong Thom provinces.