Most travellers stay healthy in Bangladesh by taking a few simple precautions with water, food and mosquitoes. This guide summarises current advice from travel health services, but it is not medical advice. See a travel doctor or clinic about six to eight weeks before you leave.
Vaccinations
Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date, including tetanus, diphtheria, polio and MMR. Travel health services commonly recommend these for most travellers:
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Rabies, especially for longer trips or rural travel
Depending on your trip and health, your doctor may also suggest hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, cholera or influenza.
Yellow fever: you need a vaccination certificate only if you arrive from, or have transited through, a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
Mosquitoes, dengue and malaria
Dengue fever occurs across Bangladesh, especially during and after the monsoon, including in Dhaka. There is no simple preventive medicine, so avoid bites:
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin, day and night.
- Wear long sleeves and trousers at dawn and dusk.
- Sleep in air-conditioned rooms or under a mosquito net.
Malaria risk is low in most of the country, including Dhaka. The risk is higher in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, and lower in some northern and northeastern border districts. Ask your doctor whether you need antimalarial tablets for your route.
Food and water
- Drink bottled or filtered water, and use it to brush your teeth.
- Eat freshly cooked food and peel fruit yourself.
- Carry oral rehydration salts and basic stomach medicine.
- See our food guide for what to try.
Heat and air quality
Spring and the monsoon are hot and humid, so drink plenty of water and rest in the hottest part of the day. Air pollution in Dhaka is often high in winter. Bring a mask if you have asthma or a lung condition.
Medical care
Dhaka has good private hospitals with English-speaking doctors, and pharmacies are everywhere. Facilities in rural areas are basic, so carry any medicine you need, with a copy of your prescription.
Travel insurance
Take out travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation before you leave. Read our travel insurance and safety page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need malaria tablets for Bangladesh?
Usually not for Dhaka and most tourist routes, but possibly for the Chittagong Hill Tracts and some border areas. Your travel doctor will advise.
Is tap water safe to drink in Bangladesh?
No. Drink bottled or filtered water.
