Belize Health

Vaccinations

  Special Precautions
Diphtheria Sometimes
Hepatitis A Yes
Malaria Yes
Rabies Sometimes
Tetanus Yes
Typhoid Yes
Yellow Fever No*
Inoculation regulations can change at short notice. Please take medical advice in the case of doubt. Where 'Sometimes' appears in the table above, precautions may be required, depending on the season and region visited.

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas.

Food and Drink

Never drink the tap water and buy only bottled purified water with a proper seal. Milk is unpasteurized and should be boiled. Avoid ice cream, raw fish and anything from street vendors. Peel or cook all fruits and vegetables. Cooked food should never be served lukewarm. Prevent flies from landing on your food as many carry airborne illnesses.

Other Risks

Vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are advised. Dengue fever is on the rise so mosquito protection is recommended. Belize is closer to the equator so you will burn faster - sunscreen is a must. Motor vehicle crashes are the main cause of injury. Just over 2.5 % of the population has HIV/AIDS.

Note:
Visitors applying for residency will require an AIDS test (foreign tests may not be acceptable).

Health Care

There are seven government hospitals - one in Belmopan, one in Belize City and one in each of the other five main district towns, but, generally, medical facilities are limited and there is a shortage of doctors in rural areas. Medical services in rural areas are provided by rural health care centres, and mobile clinics operate in remote areas. Medical insurance is strongly advised. Most hospitals and doctors expect to be paid in cash, whether you have insurance or not.
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