🏥 Travel Health Research

Travel health, country by country. The meds, the numbers, the reality-check.

Emergency numbers, pharmacy language, restricted medications, vaccinations, water safety, and US health-insurance reality-checks — for 210 countries.

210Countries

15US Insurance Carriers

MonthlyEditorial Review

FreeAlways

Researched by the tabiji editorial team. Cross-referenced against CDC Travelers' Health, WHO International Travel and Health, IATA Travel Centre, US State Department, and national health-ministry sources. Last full review: April 2026. This is not personal medical advice — confirm anything safety-critical with a travel-medicine clinician before you go. How we build these guides →

Going somewhere soon?

One-line reality check by destination.

Start with the single thing most travelers land not knowing. Tap a chip, or jump to the full country guide.

Current alerts · April 2026

What's actually circulating right now.

Refreshed monthly from WHO Disease Outbreak News, CDC Health Alert Network, ECDC, and regional press. Not every advisory will affect your trip — skim for your destination.

Southeast AsiaDengue — early surge ahead of monsoon
Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and Bali reporting above-average case counts for April. Peak season runs through October. Use DEET, cover exposed skin at dawn/dusk, and stay in screened accommodations.
Source: WHO Disease Outbreak News
AfricaCholera — active outbreaks across the Horn & Southern Africa
Ongoing outbreaks in Ethiopia, Sudan, DRC, Zambia, and Mozambique. Stick to bottled or boiled water, avoid unpasteurized dairy, and consider the oral cholera vaccine for long stays or aid work.
Source: WHO
United Kingdom & EuropeMeasles resurgence
UK, Romania, and several continental European countries reporting measles outbreaks tied to dropping MMR coverage. Check your MMR status before travel — two doses needed.
Source: ECDC
DRC & Central AfricaMpox Clade I — sustained transmission
Mpox clade I continues to spread in DRC and neighboring countries. CDC Level 2 advisory. Vaccination recommended for at-risk travelers.
Source: CDC Health Alert Network
Pakistan & AfghanistanPolio — vaccination required
Wild poliovirus transmission continues. Both countries require polio booster within 12 months of departure if staying more than 4 weeks. Keep proof of vaccination.
Source: WHO
GlobalH5N1 avian influenza — human cases rising
Avoid live-poultry markets and sick or dead birds. Not a general traveler risk yet, but relevant for birders, farm tourism, and long stays in affected regions.
Source: WHO

Editor's lists

The non-obvious stuff.

Three things that catch travelers off guard more than anything else. Start here if you haven't traveled internationally in a while.

Restricted medications

10 countries where your prescription might be illegal

Adderall in Japan, CBD in the UAE, codeine in Qatar, pseudoephedrine almost everywhere in East Asia. The rules that get overlooked until customs.

See the list → Medical evacuation

Top 5 medical evacuation nightmares

Mongolia's steppe, Bolivia's altitude, Madagascar, Nepal's trekking regions, remote Pacific. Where a helicopter call-out can run six figures.

Plan ahead → US health insurance

Where US insurance actually works abroad

PPO emergencies flow through most of Europe. Kaiser and most HMOs break down the moment you leave the US. Carrier-by-carrier breakdown.

Check your carrier →

Medevac spotlight

5 countries where a helicopter call-out could run six figures.

These destinations have a pattern in common: limited specialist care, no nearby regional hub, and terrain that turns a hospital run into an air evacuation. Buy insurance that covers the full medevac cost band ($50K–250K) — not a $10K ceiling that won't move you.

🇲🇳

Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar has one tier-2 hospital. Anything serious = evacuation to Seoul or Beijing. Gobi treks put you 48+ hours from any hospital.

→ 🇧🇴

Bolivia

La Paz is 3,640m. Altitude complicates trauma care; severe cases evacuate to Santa Cruz or Lima. High-altitude pulmonary edema needs immediate descent.

→ 🇲🇬

Madagascar

Limited specialist care outside Antananarivo. Evacuation to Johannesburg or Réunion is standard for anything beyond a GP visit.

→ 🇳🇵

Nepal

Trekking regions above 3,000m have altitude-sickness helicopter rescues running $5K–20K. Kathmandu hospitals handle basics; serious cases go to Bangkok or Singapore.

→ 🇵🇬

Papua New Guinea

Port Moresby has one adequate private hospital. Outside the capital, evacuation to Cairns or Brisbane is the only realistic option.

→

Filter the directory

Find countries by specific risk.

Narrow 210 countries to the ones that match your trip. Filters combine — pick tap-water caution + yellow-fever required to see the overlap.

Tap water

Healthcare

Vaccinations

Medications

Insurance

All 210 countries

Browse by region.

Every country links to a full health guide — emergency numbers, hospitals, pharmacy phrases, medication restrictions, cash-price estimates, and medevac guidance.

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How we rate healthcare quality ★★★★★ Excellent — tier-1 hospitals, English-speaking, direct billing · ★★★★ Very good — private hospitals strong, some language friction · ★★★ Good — private care adequate, public system variable · ★★ Limited — private clinics OK, complex care needs evacuation · ★ Minimal — emergency-only, medevac essential for anything serious.

🇪🇺 Europe

Tap water — caution · Insurance required for entry

Read the guide →

🇧🇦

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tap water — caution · Strict medication rules · Insurance required for entry

🌏 Asia

🇧🇩

Bangladesh

Limited

See the full guide for details.

Insurance required for entry

Strict medication rules

Tap water — caution · Insurance required for entry

Tap water unsafe · Strict medication rules

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules

See the full guide for details.

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules

See the full guide for details.

See the full guide for details.

Tap water unsafe · Insurance required for entry

See the full guide for details.

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules

Tap water unsafe · Strict medication rules

🕌 Middle East & North Africa

🇪🇬

Egypt

Good

Tap water — caution · Strict medication rules · Insurance required for entry

Tap water — caution · Strict medication rules · Insurance required for entry

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules

See the full guide for details.

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules · Insurance required for entry

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules · Insurance required for entry

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules · Insurance required for entry

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules · Insurance required for entry

Tap water safe · Strict medication rules

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

🌍 Sub-Saharan Africa

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk · Insurance required for entry

Tap water safe · Insurance required for entry

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk · Insurance required for entry

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Read the guide →

🇨🇫

Central African Republic

Very Limited

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Read the guide →

🇨🇬

Republic of the Congo

Limited

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Read the guide →

🇸🇹

São Tomé and Príncipe

Very Limited

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Read the guide →

🌎 Americas

🇦🇷

Argentina

Very Good

Tap water safe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk

Insurance required for entry

See the full guide for details.

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk · Insurance required for entry

See the full guide for details.

See the full guide for details.

See the full guide for details.

Tap water unsafe · Strict medication rules

See the full guide for details.

Tap water safe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk

Tap water unsafe · Yellow fever risk

Tap water safe · Insurance required for entry

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Tap water — caution · Yellow fever risk

Tap water safe · Yellow fever risk

Read the guide →

🇻🇮

United States Virgin Islands

Good

Tap water safe

Read the guide →

🌊 Oceania

Tap water safe · Insurance required for entry

Frequently asked

Travel health, answered.

Twenty questions we get most often. Jump to the full country or carrier guide for the specifics.

What's the emergency number I should memorize before I travel?▾

112 works across the EU, most of Europe, and as a fallback on any GSM mobile phone globally. 911 covers the US, Canada, and most of Latin America. 999 is the UK. Japan splits services: 119 for ambulance/fire, 110 for police. Always check the country page for the exact number before you land.

Can I drink the tap water?▾

Safe in most of Western Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Unsafe or risky almost everywhere else — Mexico, most of Latin America, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. When in doubt, drink bottled or filtered water and skip ice at non-tourist venues.

Does my US health insurance cover me abroad?▾

Rarely the way you'd expect. Most US plans cover emergencies only, at out-of-network rates, and require you to pay upfront and file a claim afterwards. Kaiser, Medicaid, and most HMOs are especially limited. See our carrier-by-carrier guides for details.

Do I need travel health insurance?▾

Yes, in almost every case. A hospital visit abroad can run $5,000–50,000+; medical evacuation runs $50,000–250,000. Even if your US plan covers emergencies, supplemental travel insurance handles evacuation, repatriation, and out-of-network costs your primary plan won't.

Which medications are banned in Japan?▾

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine, and most amphetamine-based ADHD medications are prohibited — even with a valid US prescription. Codeine is controlled and requires a Yakkan Shoumei import certificate for larger quantities. CBD with any THC is illegal.

Can I bring CBD or cannabis abroad?▾

Rarely safe. CBD with any THC content is illegal in Japan, UAE, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China, Russia, and many others. Thailand allows medical cannabis for residents only. Even CBD isolate is treated as a controlled substance in several jurisdictions. Never assume legality.

Which countries require yellow fever vaccination?▾

Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of tropical South America either require yellow fever vaccination for entry or strongly recommend it. Some countries require it only if you're arriving from an endemic country. Check our individual country pages for exact rules.

What should I do in a medical emergency abroad?▾

Call the local emergency number first (check before you land). Ask for an English-speaking doctor or a hospital with international patients. Contact your travel insurer's 24/7 assistance line — they can coordinate payment, find accredited facilities, and arrange evacuation if needed.

How much does medical evacuation cost?▾

$15,000–60,000 for most regional transfers. $100,000–250,000 for intercontinental ICU-level evacuation. Major providers include Global Rescue, MedJet, and International SOS. This is the single biggest financial risk of serious illness abroad and the main reason to buy travel insurance.

Is it safe to eat street food?▾

Often yes — at busy stalls where food is cooked to order and turnover is high. Avoid raw or undercooked meat and seafood, salads washed in tap water, and sliced fruit. Stick to food that's served hot off the flame. The busiest stall in the neighborhood is usually the safest bet.

Should I bring my own medications or buy them locally?▾

Bring everything you take regularly, in original labeled packaging, with a doctor's letter listing generic names and indications. Local pharmacies in developed countries often stock equivalents — but in developing regions, counterfeit medications are a real risk. Bring more than you need.

What is BCBS Global Core and how does it work?▾

BCBS Global Core gives members access to a network of international doctors and hospitals in 190+ countries. Call 1-800-810-BLUE (2583) before non-emergency care; for emergencies, go to the nearest hospital and call within 48 hours. Many network hospitals can bill BCBS directly.

Is Kaiser Permanente valid internationally?▾

Kaiser covers emergency care abroad but on a reimbursement basis — you pay upfront and file a claim. No out-of-area routine or urgent care. Kaiser is the worst major US carrier for international travel. Supplemental insurance is essential if you're a Kaiser member going abroad.

How do I find an English-speaking doctor abroad?▾

Ask your travel insurer's assistance line first — they maintain vetted lists. Second option: the US embassy in-country publishes a list of English-speaking physicians. International hospitals (Bumrungrad in Bangkok, Mount Elizabeth in Singapore, American Hospital in Paris) always have English-speaking staff.

Do I need a prescription for my medication in the country I'm visiting?▾

In most countries, foreign prescriptions are not legally accepted — you'll need a local doctor to re-prescribe. Always bring your own supply with you in original packaging. Carrying controlled substances without proper documentation can result in confiscation or arrest in strict-enforcement countries.

What vaccinations does the CDC recommend for travelers?▾

Routine (MMR, Tdap, polio, flu) should be up to date for everyone. Travel-specific depends on destination: Hep A and typhoid for developing countries, Hep B for long stays or medical tourism, yellow fever for endemic regions, rabies for remote or animal-contact travel, Japanese encephalitis for rural Asia.

How do I file an insurance claim from abroad?▾

Keep every receipt, itemized bill, and medical report. Ask for English-language documentation. Pay with a credit card if possible — it creates an audit trail. File the claim with your insurer on return. Many travel insurers can direct-bill the hospital if you call their assistance line first.

What's the most common health risk for tourists?▾

Road traffic accidents. Not exotic diseases — moped crashes in Southeast Asia, pedestrian accidents in cities where traffic rules differ, and rental-car crashes are the leading cause of tourist deaths worldwide. Wear a helmet, use seatbelts, and don't drive drunk.

What if I run out of medication abroad?▾

In developed countries, an English-speaking doctor can usually re-prescribe. In developing regions, pharmacies may stock generic equivalents without requiring a prescription — but verify authenticity (counterfeit risk). The US embassy in-country can sometimes help with emergency prescriptions.

Is travel health insurance worth it for short trips?▾

Yes, even for a long weekend. Policies start at $20–40 for a week. A single ambulance ride abroad costs more than five years of travel insurance premiums. The math is unambiguous; the only question is which provider and coverage level.

Methodology

How we build these guides.

The short version: multiple official sources per country, cross-referenced, dated, and reviewed on a monthly editorial cycle. Not a replacement for a travel-medicine consult — a starting point that saves you two hours of research.

Pull the official sources first.
CDC Travelers' Health, WHO International Travel and Health, IATA Travel Centre, US State Department advisories, and the destination country's health ministry when English-language publications exist.
Cross-reference the volatile facts.
Emergency numbers, entry vaccination rules, and restricted-medication lists change. Every data point is checked against at least two independent sources before it ships.
Rate healthcare quality conservatively.
Five-star = tier-1 international hospitals with English-speaking staff and direct-billing relationships. One-star = emergency-only, medevac essential. We err toward the lower rating where evidence is mixed.
Review monthly; correct on demand.
Full editorial pass every four weeks. Reader corrections at [email protected] usually ship within 48 hours. Every page carries its last-updated date.
Disclose what we are and aren't.
We are a travel-safety research team. We are not physicians. These guides save you time and flag risks — they do not replace a travel-medicine consult, and they are not a substitute for reading your own insurance plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage.

Spot something out of date?

Emergency numbers change. Medication rules change. Outbreaks come and go. Every correction gets read and usually shipped within 48 hours.

Send a correction