A trip to Mexico promises cultural discoveries and breathtaking scenery, but follow our travel advice for a healthy experience. However, according to the World Health Organization, travelers to Latin America, including Mexico, may be exposed to various health risks, such as malaria or dengue fever, affecting around 10% of travelers.
That’s why it’s essential to be properly prepared, so you can enjoy your stay with complete peace of mind.
Rest assured, thanks to our recommendations to guide you in your preparation and the essentials to have with you during your stay in Mexico, you’ll be ready to make the most of your stay.
Pre-departure preparation, vaccinations, infections, health in Mexico: our health tips
Before leaving for Mexico, good preparation is essential, including travel advice, to avoid health inconveniences and to have what you need on you just in case.
Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your trip (and your health kit):
- Recommended vaccinations: Consult your doctor or an international vaccination center at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure, if you have one near you. Depending on the type of trip you’re planning, your doctor may recommend vaccinations against hepatitis A (recommended for most travellers, transmitted by food and water) and typhoid fever (useful if you’re going to be spending a long time in precarious hygiene conditions). In some regions, vaccination against yellow fever may be advisable. Make sure your universal vaccinations are up to date (tetanus, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough and hepatitis B),
- Health kit to take with you: Prepare a health kit containing basic medicines, such as anti-diarrhoeals, antipyretics, mosquito repellents and hand disinfectant. Don’t forget your prescription drugs, in sufficient quantity for the duration of your stay.
It is always advisable to consult a health professional specializing in travel medicine for personalized advice on the vaccines you need, depending on your state of health and the regions you plan to visit in Mexico.
What we can recommend on site
Once you’ve arrived in Mexico, taking certain precautions will help you avoid common health problems encountered by travellers.
If you’re used to traveling to other countries, you may be familiar with these travel tips, but we think they’re always worth a reminder.
Here are the main tips to follow:
- Food advice: Be careful with food and water. Choose cooked foods and fruits you can peel yourself. Avoid raw or undercooked foods, especially seafood, to prevent diarrhea. Drink bottled or treated water, and avoid ice cubes in drinks.
- Environmental precautions: Protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses and high factor sunscreen. Stay hydrated, especially during outdoor activities. Use mosquito repellent to protect yourself from bites, which can transmit diseases such as dengue or Zika.
- Managing health emergencies: Knowing the contact details of your country’s embassy or consulate can be crucial in the event of an emergency. Also, find out which hospitals or clinics are recommended for travelers. Taking out travel insurance with medical coverage is also an excellent idea.
Malaria prevention: discover risk-free zones
Although malaria may be present in some parts of Mexico, it’s important to note that many popular tourist areas are malaria-free. Here are a few examples of malaria-free destinations:
- Urban areas and seaside resorts: Mexico’s major cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, as well as popular seaside resorts like Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta, are generally considered malaria-free.
- High altitudes can increase the risk of joint problems. The regions above 2,000 meters, such as Mexico City and the surrounding area, are also risk-free due to the cooler temperatures, which are not conducive to malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
This information should reassure travelers planning to visit these popular areas, knowing that they are in malaria-safe regions.
Nevertheless, it is always advisable to take general precautions against mosquito bites to avoid other transmissible diseases.
However, here are a few useful things you should know if you go to an area where malaria is present:
- Protect yourself against mosquitoes: use repellents containing DEET or icaridin on exposed skin. We advise you to sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, especially if you’re staying in areas at risk for chikungunya and the zika virus.
- Find out about prophylactic medication: In certain situations, a doctor may recommend taking anti-malarial medication as a preventive measure. This decision depends on your itinerary, the length of your stay, and your general state of health, especially for pregnant women.
To round off this article, we’ve put together a short checklist of things not to do in Mexico.
Things to avoid to preserve your health during your trip to Mexico
If you had to remember just a few things before your trip to Mexico, they would be these;
- Don’t drink tap water: use bottled or treated water to reduce the risk of diarrhoea.
- Avoid uncooked or undercooked street food: No matter how tempting street food may be, raw or undercooked food can be a health hazard.
- Don’t swim in stagnant or polluted water: Lakes and ponds can be contaminated and encourage infections, including viral ones.
- Don’t overexpose yourself to the sun without proper protection: Sunburn is not only painful, it can also increase the risk of health problems.
- Avoid walking barefoot in unprotected areas: This can expose you to skin infections or insect bites.
- Don’t use drugs or illegal substances: As well as the legal risks, there’s also a significant health risk.
- Don’t ignore signs of illness: If you feel unwell, seek prompt medical advice, especially if you have symptoms of malaria, dengue fever or the zika virus, which often manifest as very high fevers.
Remember that prevention is the best medicine, especially when traveling. With the right information and preparation, you’ll be able to take full advantage of everything Mexico has to offer, while staying in good health. Enjoy your trip, and make the most of every moment!
