New Zealand

• Polio is a vaccine-preventable viral disease of the nervous system that is acquired mainly through the consumption of food or water contaminated by feces.
• The infection with the polio virus can affect children and adults and may lead to permanent limb or respiratory muscle paralysis and death.
• An effective, well- tolerated vaccine is available! Check if booster doses are recommended for the travel destination (on top of completed basic vaccination schedule).

Regular hand washing after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food. Avoidance of undercooked or raw food that is potentially contaminated with fecal material.

The most important prevention is vaccination. A very effective and well-tolerated vaccine against polio is available (inactivated (killed) polio vaccine (IPV)), which is part of the basic vaccination schedule during childhood. Combination vaccines (e.g. with diphtheria and tetanus) are also available. After basic vaccination, a booster dose is recommended every 10 years for travel to certain countries (see country page recommendations). WHO recommends a yearly vaccination for residents or long-stay visitors (minimum 4 weeks) in a country with ongoing polio infections or circulating vaccine-derived polio viruses. This recommendation not only targets individual protection, but aims to prevent the international spread of the virus.

• WHO: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis
• FOPH Switzerland: Swiss vaccination plan: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/gesund-leben/gesundheitsfoerderung-und-praevention/impfungen-prophylaxe/schweizerischer-impfplan.html

• Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by a virus.
• The virus is transmitted through sexual contact, but can also be transmitted through blood (products), e.g. when sharing syringes, tattoo needles, etc.
• There is a safe and very effective vaccine that offers long-lasting protection.
• The hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all infants and adolescents up to the age of 16 and for risk groups regardless of age. 

• Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). Hepatitis B:
  https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/krankheiten-im-ueberblick/hepatitis-b.html
  
• Hepatitis Switzerland: https://en.hepatitis-schweiz.ch/all-about-hepatitis/hepatitis-b/

• STIs are a common health problem worldwide and can be managed through safer sex, regular testing and treatment.
• If you have had a risk situation, it is important to consult a health care professional as soon as possible to discuss whether HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be given to prevent contracting HIV.
• After a high-risk situation, you are advised to get tested for STIs even if you have no symptoms.

Enjoying your sexuality freely and responsibly is part of a healthy life. Knowing how to take care of yourself and others is especially important when you are in new situations – like during travel.

Travelers who engage in casual sex tend to be at higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Being abroad, while also meeting new people, can involve behaving differently and taking more risks than you would at home. It is important to know that certain practices – such as unprotected sex and/or having multiple new sexual partners – can significantly increase the risk for STIs. Some STIs can cause serious complications in some circumstances and can also be transmitted to additional partners if not diagnosed and treated in time. If you are not sure whether you are at risk, Love Life's 'Risk Check' can help.

• Burning or itching in the genital area
  
• Painful or frequent urination or pain in the lower abdomen
  
• Pain or soreness with bowel movements.
  
• Unusual discharge from the penis, anus or vagina
  
• Sores, redness, blisters or warts in the mouth/lips or genital area In some cases fever

Important: STIs can also occur without any or only mild symptoms. Even if you are not aware of it, you can infect others. Even if you have no symptoms, you should consult your doctor if you have had unprotected sex with a new partner or multiple partners. This is because early detection and treatment are important to prevent transmission and complications from untreated STIs.

STIs can be diagnosed during a physical exam or by examining urine, a sore, a blister, or a swab from the vagina, penis, throat or anus. Blood tests can help with certain diagnosis (hepatitis A, B and C, HIV and syphilis).

The timing of testing is important, as some infections may not be detectable immediately after exposure (diagnostic window). To rule out an infection, HIV and syphilis should usually be tested at least 6 weeks after the sexual contact. In the case of chlamydia and gonorrhea, testing should be done at least 2 weeks after the contact. This applies only if there are no symptoms.

Take also into consideration that access to reliable testing and treatment may be limited in some destinations.

Before you travel:

• Consider STI screening if you have had recent risk exposure
  
• Ensure vaccinations are up to date (hepatitis B, HPV and depending on sexual practices hepatitis A and mpox)
  
• Discuss HIV-PrEP with a healthcare provider if appropriate
  

During travel:

• Follow Love Life's safer sex rules.
  
• Carry condoms from reliable sources, as quality or availability may vary in some destinations.
  
• Remember that oral sex can also lead to transmission of STIs.
  
• If you have had a high-risk situation, it is important to consult a health care professional as soon as possible to discuss whether HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be given to prevent HIV infection. HIV PEP is most effective when given early i.e. within first hours after exposure (max 48 hours after contact).
  
• Remember that alcohol or drugs may lead to increased risk behavior.
  
• Remember that you can infect another person/known partner during sex if you have an untreated STI.
  
• People with a newly diagnosed STI are encouraged to inform their former sexual partners so that they can also be treated.
  
• Even without symptoms, screening is recommended after risk exposure.

• If you are experiencing symptoms (see above)
  
• If you have multiple sexual partners, it’s recommended to do an STI-Check at least once a year.
  
• If you belong to a demographic group with a higher STI-risk. For example, MSM or sex workers and their clients
  
• If a sexual partner has been recently diagnosed with an STI
  
• Returning from travel if you had a high-risk contact
  
• At the beginning of a new monogamous relationship

• Love Life: www.lovelife.ch
  
• Sexual Health Switzerland: www.sexuelle-gesundheit.ch
  
• Hepatitis Switzerland: https://en.hepatitis-schweiz.ch/all-about-hepatitis/what-is-hepatitis
  
• World Health Organization (WHO). Factsheets. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 20.12.2025: www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)

• Eine Höhenkrankheit kann lebensgefährlich sein und bei jedem Reisenden auftreten.
• Die Gefahr beginnt bei ca. 2500m und nimmt mit zunehmender Höhe zu.
• Wenn Sie einen Höhenaufenthalt planen, lesen sie bitte dieses Merkblatt aufmerksam durch!
• Je nach Reiseart und / oder Vorerkrankungen wird die Beratung durch eine Fachperson dringend angeraten.

1. Langsamer Aufstieg. Aufstiegsregeln: oberhalb von 2500m sollte die Schlafhöhe um nicht mehr als 300-500m pro Tag gesteigert werden und pro 1000m Schlafhöhengewinn sollte ein zusätzlicher Ruhetag eingelegt werden.
   
2. Treten Beschwerden auf, die auf eine Bergkrankheit hinweisen (siehe oben), muss der Anstieg pausiert werden und er darf erst wieder bei Beschwerdefreiheit fortgesetzt werden. Bei Zunahme der Beschwerden muss abgestiegen werden bzw. Patient:innen in tiefere Lagen abtransportiert werden. Bei Ignorieren zunehmender Beschwerden können sich die lebensbedrohlichen Formen der Höhenkrankheit, das Höhenhirnödem und/oder das Höhenlungenödem entwickeln.
   
3. Ist das Einhalten der oben genannten Aufstiegsregeln situativ oder geländebedingt nicht möglich, kann die Einnahme von Acetazolamid (DIAMOX®) das Risiko eine akute Höhenkrankheit zu entwickeln, vermindern. Die Verschreibung des Medikaments bedingt eine ärztliche Indikationsstellung sowie eine Aufklärung über allfällige Nebenwirkungen!

• Kopfschmerzen: Paracetamol (z.B. PANADOL®, DAFALGAN®). Keine Schlafmittel verwenden!
  
• Höhenhirnödem: sofortiger Abstieg. Falls verfügbar: Sauerstoffgabe, medikamentöse Notfalltherapie.
  
• Höhenlungenödem (Atemnot auch in Ruhe, rasselndes Atemgeräusch, Reizhusten) Sofortiger Abstieg. Falls verfügbar: Sauerstoffgabe, medikamentöse Notfalltherapie.

• Mpox is a viral disease that typically causes a rash, swollen lymph nodes and fever.
• An emerging variant is spreading rapidly in eastern D.R. Congo and neighboring countries prompting a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), as of August 14th 2024.
• Close physical contact (sexual or non-sexual) is the main mode of transmission.
• The disease generally follows a mild course. Children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems are the most at risk of complications.
• Vaccination against mpox is available, but limited to groups at high risk of exposure. 

Mpox has been commonly found in West and Central Africa for many years where the suspected reservoir - small mammals - is endemic. There are two types of Monkeypox virus called ‘clades’ that cause the disease mpox - clade I in Central Africa and clade II in West Africa. Since the end of smallpox vaccination campaigns in the early 1980’s, cases of mpox have increased, slowly at first and significantly in the last 5-10 years, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In 2022, a new emerging subclade of clade II was responsible for a global epidemic that spread mainly through sexual contact among men who have sex with men. It resulted in the first public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) declared by the WHO until 2023. Although the clade II epidemic is now under control, this virus variant continues to circulate worldwide.

In 2024, the continued spread of mpox clade I in endemic regions of Central Africa, particularly in the DRC, and the emergence of a new subclade Ib in Eastern DRC and neighboring countries have raised global concern and prompted the WHO to declare a PHEIC for the second time in two years. The current geographical spread of the mpox clade Ib variant occurs via commercial routes through sexual contact (e.g. sex workers), followed by local transmission in households and other settings (which is becoming increasingly important).

Animal to human transmission
Mpox can spread from animal to human when they come into direct contact with an infected animal (rodents or primates).

Human to human transmission
Mpox can be spread from person to person through close physical contact (sexual and non-sexual contact) with someone who has symptoms of mpox. Skin and mucous membrane lesions, body fluids, and scabs are particularly infectious. A person can also become infected by touching or handling clothing, bedding, towels, or objects such as eating utensils/dishes that have been contaminated by contact with a person with symptoms. Household members, family caretakers, and sexual partners of a confirmed case of mpox are at higher risk for infection as are health care workers who treat a case without adequate personal protection.

The incubation period (time between infection and onset of symptoms) ranges from a few days up to 3 weeks. Mpox causes a rash / skin eruption that can be painful associated with swollen lymph nodes and fever. Fever may start already before the rash phase. Other symptoms include muscle aches, back pain, and fatigue. The rash may be localized or generalized, with few or hundreds of skin lesions. It mainly affects the face, the trunk and the palms of hand and soles of the feet. It can also be present in genital areas and on mucous membranes such as in the mouth and throat. Symptoms usually last 2 to 4 weeks and the person remains contagious until all lesions have healed (once the cabs have fallen off).

Complications include secondary bacterial infections, infections of the lung and brain and involvement of other organs, still birth and others. Children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk to develop a severe form of mpox.

The majority of person with mpox recovers spontaneously and do not need specific antiviral treatment. Care management consists of relieving pain and other symptoms and preventing complications (e.g., superinfection). Several antiviral treatments are studied in various countries and may be used in trials or in clinical situations according to the recommendations of national medical societies.

In case of symptoms: 

• Seek medical attention immediately
• If you are diagnosed with mpox
  • Please stay at home (isolate yourself) until your mpox rash has healed and a new layer of skin has formed. Staying away from other people and not sharing things you have touched with others will help prevent the spread of mpox. People with mpox should regularly clean and disinfect the spaces they use to limit household contamination.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • You should not have sex while symptomatic and while you have lesions or symptoms. Use condoms for 12 weeks after infection. This is a precaution to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to a partner.
  • For more information on what do if you are sick, see CDC LINK.

General precautions:

• Worldwide:
  • avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have or may have mpox or people who have a rash (e.g., pimples, blisters, scabs).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching potentially contaminated personal items such as cups, bedding/clothing, towels or sharing eating utensils/cups, food or drink with a person who has, or may have mpox.
  • Avoid sex with sick persons; use of condoms for up to 12 weeks if you sexual partner have had mpox.
  • Follow advice of local authorities.

• When travelling to endemic / epidemic areas in Africa, in addition to above mentioned general precautions: 
  • Avoid contact with and animals in areas where mpox regularly occurs.
  • Avoid eating or preparing meat from wild animals (bushmeat) or using products (creams, lotions, powders) derived from wild animals.

Vaccination:

There are several vaccines against mpox (e.g. Jynneos®, manufacture Bavarian Nordic). The Bavarian Nordic vaccine was originally developed to fight against smallpox, but offers a cross-protection against mpox. In Switzerland, the Jynneos® vaccine has been licensed by Swissmedic since 2024. Groups at risk (e.g., men who have sex with men or transgender people with multiple sex partners) are eligible for vaccination since 2022 and this recommendation remains unchanged (see FOPH recommendations). In light of the epidemiological situation in Africa in 2024, the Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine recommends vaccination against mpox for professionals who are / will be in contact with suspect mpox patients or animals in endemic/epidemic regions or who work in a laboratory with the virus (for updates, see news).

The risk to the general population and travelers (tourists) is considered extremely low if the above-mentioned general precautions are followed and vaccination is not recommended.

• Seek medical attention immediately.
• Mpox is not a sexual transmitted disease in the strict sense, physical contact with a person with symptoms of mpox (rash at any stage) is sufficient to transmit the disease. Condoms do not protect you from getting mpox!

• Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)                                                            
• World Health Organisation: WHO FAQ
• European Center of Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC)
• US Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)