Venezuela

Country fact file

General Information

The information on these pages should be used to research health risks and to inform the pre-travel consultation. Travellers should check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) country-specific travel advice page (where available) which provides information on travel entry requirements in addition to safety and security advice. Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel. However, even if time is short, an appointment is still worthwhile. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities. For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended. All travellers should ensure they have adequate travel health insurance. A list of useful resources including advice on how to reduce the risk of certain health problems is available below.

What vaccinations do I need for Venezuela?

Details of vaccination recommendations and requirements are provided below.

All travellers

Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine. Country-specific diphtheria recommendations are not provided here. Diphtheria tetanus and polio are combined in a single vaccine in the UK. Therefore, when a tetanus booster is recommended for travellers, diphtheria vaccine is also given. Should there be an outbreak of diphtheria in a country, diphtheria vaccination guidance will be provided. Those who may be at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their work, lifestyle choice, or certain underlying health problems should be up to date with additional recommended vaccines. See details on the selective immunisation programmes and additional vaccines for individuals with underlying medical conditions at the bottom of the 'Complete routine immunisation schedule' document and the individual chapters of the 'Green Book' Immunisation against infectious disease for further details.

Certificate requirements

Please read the information below carefully, as certificate requirements may be relevant to certain travellers only. For travellers further details, if required, should be sought from their healthcare professional. There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in parts of Venezuela (see ‘Some Travellers’ section below). Under International Health Regulations, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from Brazil and for travellers having transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in Brazil. According to World Health Organization (WHO), from 11 July 2016 (for all countries), the yellow fever certificate will be valid for the duration of the life of the person vaccinated. As a consequence, a valid certificate, presented by arriving travellers, cannot be rejected on the grounds that more than ten years have passed since the date vaccination became effective as stated on the certificate; and that boosters or revaccination cannot be required. View the WHO list of countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Most travellers

The vaccines in this section are recommended for most travellers visiting this country. Information on these vaccines can be found by clicking on the blue arrow. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral infection transmitted through contaminated food and water or by direct contact with an infectious person. Symptoms are often mild or absent in young children, but the disease can be more serious with advancing age. Recovery can vary from weeks to months. Following hepatitis A infection immunity is lifelong.

Prevention
All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Hepatitis A vaccination
As hepatitis A vaccine is well tolerated and affords long-lasting protection, it is recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers.

Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by a toxin released from Clostridium tetani bacteria and occurs worldwide. Tetanus bacteria are present in soil and manure and may be introduced through open wounds such as a puncture wound, burn or scratch.

Prevention
Travellers should thoroughly clean all wounds and seek medical attention for injuries such as animal bites/scratches, burns or wounds contaminated with soil.

Tetanus vaccination
Travellers should have completed a tetanus vaccination course according to the UK schedule. If travelling to a country or area where medical facilities may be limited, a booster dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended if the last dose was more than ten years ago even if five doses of vaccine have been given previously. Country-specific information on medical facilities may be found in the 'health' section of the FCDO foreign travel advice pages.

Typhus

Typhoid is a bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated food and water. Previous typhoid illness may only partially protect against re-infection. Vaccination is recommended for most travellers, particularly travellers visiting friends and relatives, those in contact with an infected person, young children, frequent or long-stay travellers visiting areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor, and laboratory personnel who may handle the bacteria for their work.

Prevention
All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Typhoid vaccination
Oral and injectable typhoid vaccinations are available.

Some travellers

The vaccines in this section are recommended for some travellers visiting this country. Information on when these vaccines should be considered can be found by clicking on the arrow. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes which bite mainly during daytime hours. It causes a flu-like illness and can cause severe joint and muscles pains which usually improve in 1–2 weeks but may persist for months or years. It is rarely fatal. There is a risk of chikungunya in this country. Information on current outbreaks, where available, will be reported on our outbreak surveillance database.

Prevention
Travellers should avoid mosquito bites, particularly during daytime hours.

Chikungunya vaccination
Vaccination may be considered for individuals aged 12 years of age and over who are: travelling to regions with a current chikungunya outbreak, long-term or frequent travellers to regions with an increased risk of chikungunya, exposed to the chikungunya virus through their work, such as laboratory staff working with the virus. Detailed advice about the use and contraindications of the available vaccines will be available in the green book chikungunya chapter in the coming months. For now, please see the JCVI news item and chikungunya in brief for details.

Denguefieber

Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes which mainly feed during daytime hours. It causes a flu-like illness, which can occasionally develop into a more serious life-threatening illness. Severe dengue is rare in travellers. The mosquitoes that spread dengue are more common in towns, cities and surrounding areas. There is a risk of dengue in this country. Information on current outbreaks, where available, will be reported on our outbreak surveillance database.

Prevention
Travellers should avoid mosquito bites, particularly during daytime hours.

Dengue vaccination
Vaccination can be considered for individuals aged 4 years of age and older who have had dengue infection in the past and who are: travelling to areas where there is a risk of dengue infection or areas with an ongoing outbreak of dengue, or are exposed to dengue virus through their work, such as laboratory staff working with the virus. Exceptionally, vaccination can be considered in those who have not had dengue in the past. In these situations, further expert advice should be considered. Detailed guidance on how to ascertain previous infection is available in the UK Health Security Agency Immunisation against infectious disease the 'Green book'. The final decision on vaccination rests with the health professional and the traveller after a detailed risk assessment has been performed and the potential risks of vaccination explained.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection spread through blood, semen and vaginal fluids. This mostly occurs during sexual contact or as a result of blood-to-blood contact (for example from contaminated equipment during medical and dental procedures, tattooing or body piercing procedures, and sharing of intravenous needles). Mothers with the virus can also pass on the infection to their baby during childbirth. This country is considered to have an intermediate or high prevalence of hepatitis B.

Prevention
Travellers should avoid contact with blood or body fluids. This includes: Avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse. Avoiding tattooing, piercing, public shaving, and acupuncture (unless sterile equipment is used). Not sharing needles or other injection equipment. Following universal precautions if working in a healthcare or other higher risk setting. A sterile medical equipment kit may be helpful when travelling to resource poor areas.

Hepatitis B vaccination
Vaccination could be considered for all travellers and is recommended for those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk. This includes: Those who may have unprotected sex. Those who may be exposed to contaminated needles through injecting drug use. Those who may be exposed to blood or body fluids through their work (e.g. health and aid workers). Those at high risk of requiring medical or dental procedures or hospitalisation e.g. those with pre-existing medical conditions, those who may require travelling for medical care abroad, or those travelling to visit families or relatives. Long-stay travellers. Those who are participating in contact sports. Families adopting children from this country.

Tollwut

Rabies is a viral infection which is usually transmitted following contact with the saliva of an infected animal most often via a bite, scratch or lick to an open wound or mucous membrane (such as on the eye, nose or mouth). Although many different animals can transmit the virus, most cases follow a bite or scratch from an infected dog. In some parts of the world, bats are an important source of infection. Rabies symptoms can take some time to develop, but when they do, the condition is almost always fatal. The risk of exposure is increased by certain activities and length of stay (see below). Children are at increased risk as they are less likely to avoid contact with animals and to report a bite, scratch or lick.

Rabies in Venezuela
Rabies is considered a risk in Venezuela and has been reported in domestic animals in this country. Rabies may be present in Margarita island; information is limited or unavailable. Bats may also carry rabies-like viruses.

Prevention
Travellers should avoid contact with all animals. Rabies is preventable with prompt post-exposure treatment. Following a possible exposure, wounds should be thoroughly cleansed and an urgent local medical assessment sought, even if the wound appears trivial. Post-exposure treatment and advice should be in accordance with national guidelines.

Rabies vaccination
A full course of pre-exposure vaccines simplifies and shortens the course of post-exposure treatment and removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin which is in short supply world-wide. Pre-exposure vaccinations are recommended for travellers whose activities put them at increased risk including: those at risk due to their work (e.g. laboratory staff working with the virus, those working with animals or health workers who may be caring for infected patients). those travelling to areas where access to post-exposure treatment and medical care is limited. those planning higher risk activities such as running or cycling. long-stay travellers (more than one month).

Tuberkulose

TB is a bacterial infection most commonly affecting the lungs but can affect any part of the body. When a person with TB in their lungs or throat coughs or sneezes they could pass TB on to other people. TB is curable but can be serious if not treated. The BCG vaccination helps to protect some people, particularly babies and young children who are at increased risk from TB. This country has reported an annual TB incidence of greater than or equal to 40 cases per 100,000 population at least once in the last five years (further details).

Prevention
Travellers should avoid close contact with individuals known to have infectious pulmonary (lung) or laryngeal (throat) TB. Those at risk during their work (such as healthcare workers) should take appropriate infection control and prevention precautions.

Tuberculosis (BCG) vaccination
BCG vaccine is recommended for those at increased risk of developing severe disease and/or of exposure to TB infection. See UK Health Security Agency Immunisation against infectious disease, the 'Green Book'. For travellers, BCG vaccine is recommended for: Unvaccinated, children under 16 years of age, who are going to live for more than 3 months in this country. A tuberculin skin test is required prior to vaccination for all children from 6 years of age and may be recommended for some younger children. Unvaccinated, tuberculin skin test-negative individuals at risk due to their work such as healthcare or laboratory workers who have direct contact with TB patients or potentially infectious clinical material and vets and abattoir workers who handle animal material, which could be infected with TB. There are specific contraindications to BCG vaccine. Health professionals must be trained and assessed as competent to administer this vaccine intradermally. Following administration, no further vaccines should be administered in the same limb for 3 months. The BCG vaccine is given once only, booster doses are not recommended.

Gelbfieber

Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes which predominantly feed between dawn and dusk, but may also bite at night, especially in the jungle environment. Symptoms may be absent or mild, but in severe cases, it can cause internal bleeding, organ failure and death.

Yellow fever in Venezuela
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in parts of this country (see below).

Prevention
Travellers should avoid mosquito bites at all times.

Yellow fever vaccination
Vaccination is recommended for travellers aged 9 months and older except as mentioned below. Areas with low potential for exposure to yellow fever only (see green areas on the map) Vaccination is generally not recommended for travellers whose itineraries are limited to areas with a low potential for exposure to yellow fever: the entire states of Aragua, Carabobo, Miranda, Vargas and Yaracuy and the Distrito Federal. People aged 60 years or older should not be given the vaccine for travel to areas with a low potential for exposure due to a higher risk of life-threatening side effects. Vaccination could be considered for a small subset of travellers (aged 9 months to less than 60 years) to areas with a low potential who are at increased risk because of: prolonged travel. heavy exposure to mosquito bites. inability to avoid insect bites. Vaccination is not recommended for travellers whose itineraries are limited to the following areas: all areas >2,300m in altitude in the States of Trujillo, Merida, and Tachira; the States of Falcon and Lara; Margarita Island; the capital city of Caracas; and the city of Valencia. See vaccine recommendation map below. The yellow fever vaccine is not suitable for all travellers, there are specific undesirable effects associated with it. This vaccine is only available at registered yellow fever vaccination centres. Health professionals should carefully assess the risks and benefits of the vaccine, and seek specialist advice if necessary.

What diseases should I be aware of in Venezuela?

Malaria

Malaria is a serious illness caused by infection of red blood cells with a parasite called Plasmodium. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes which predominantly feed between dusk and dawn. Symptoms usually begin with a fever (high temperature) of 38°C (100°F) or more. Other symptoms may include feeling cold and shivery, headache, nausea, vomiting and aching muscles. Symptoms may appear between eight days and one year after the infected mosquito bite. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is required as people with malaria can deteriorate quickly. Those at higher risk of malaria, or of severe complications from malaria, include pregnant women, infants and young children, the elderly, travellers who do not have a functioning spleen and those visiting friends and relatives.

Prävention

Travellers should follow an ABCD guide to preventing malaria:

• Awareness of the risk – Risk depends on the specific location, season of travel, length of stay, activities and type of accommodation.

• Bite prevention – Travellers should take mosquito bite avoidance measures.

• Chemoprophylaxis – Travellers should take antimalarials (malaria prevention tablets) if appropriate for the area (see below). No antimalarials are 100% effective but taking them in combination with mosquito bite avoidance measures will give substantial protection against malaria.

• Diagnosis – Travellers who develop a fever of 38°C [100°F] or higher more than one week after being in a malaria risk area, or who develop any symptoms suggestive of malaria within a year of return should seek immediate medical care. Emergency standby treatment may be considered for those going to remote areas with limited access to medical attention.

Risk areas

There is a risk of malaria in all areas of Venezuela particularly in the Amazonas, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro and Sucre states: atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine recommended. There is no risk in the city of Caracas or on Margarita Island: bite avoidance recommended.

Recommended antimalarials

The recommended antimalarials are listed below. If these are not suitable please seek further specialist advice. Please note, the advice for children is different, the dose is based on body weight and some antimalarials are not suitable.

Atovoquone/Proguanil
Atovaquone 250mg/Proguanil 100mg combination preparation: start one to two days before arrival in the malaria risk area for adults, one tablet is taken every day, ideally at the same time of day for the duration of the time in a malaria risk area and daily for seven days after leaving the malaria risk area take with a fatty meal if possible for children paediatric tablets are available and the dose is based on body weight (see table below).

Doxycycline
Doxycycline 100mg: start one to two days before arrival in the malaria risk area adults and children over 12 years of age take 100mg daily, ideally at the same time of day for the duration of the time in a malaria risk area and daily for four weeks after leaving the malaria risk area take with food if possible; avoid taking this drug just before lying down not suitable for children under 12 years of age.

MefloquineMefloquine 250mg: this drug is taken weekly, adults take one 250mg tablet each week start two to three weeks before arrival in the malaria risk area and continue weekly until four weeks after leaving the malaria risk area for children the dose is based on the body weight (see table below).

Sonstige Risiken

There are some risks that are relevant to all travellers regardless of destination. These may for example include road traffic and other accidents, diseases transmitted by insects or ticks, diseases transmitted by contaminated food and water, or health issues related to the heat or cold. Some additional risks (which may be present in all or part of this country) are mentioned below and are presented alphabetically. Select risk to expand information.

Altitude
There is a risk of altitude illness when travelling to destinations of 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) or higher. Important risk factors are the altitude gained, rate of ascent and sleeping altitude. Rapid ascent without a period of acclimatisation puts a traveller at higher risk. There are three syndromes; acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE). HACE and HAPE require immediate descent and medical treatment.

Biting insects or ticks
Insect or tick bites can cause irritation and infections of the skin at the site of a bite. They can also spread certain diseases. Diseases in South America There is a risk of insect or tick-borne diseases in some areas of South America. This includes diseases such as American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease), leishmaniasis and West Nile virus.

Influenza
Seasonal influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract and spreads easily from person to person via respiratory droplets when coughing and sneezing. Symptoms appear rapidly and include fever, muscle aches, headache, malaise (feeling unwell), cough, sore throat and a runny nose. In healthy individuals, symptoms improve without treatment within two to seven days. Severe illness is more common in those aged 65 years or over, those under 2 years of age, or those who have underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for complications of influenza.

Outdoor air quality
Poor air quality is a significant public health problem in many parts of the world. Exposure to high levels of air pollution over short time periods (e.g. minutes/hours/days) and longer time periods (e.g. years) is linked to many different acute and chronic health problems. These effects are mainly on the respiratory (lungs and airways) and cardiovascular (heart function and blood circulation) systems.

Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection. Schistosoma larvae are released from infected freshwater snails and can penetrate intact human skin following contact with contaminated freshwater. Travellers may be exposed during activities such as wading, swimming, bathing or washing clothes in freshwater streams, rivers or lakes. Schistosomiasis infection may cause no symptoms, but early symptoms can include a rash and itchy skin ('swimmer's itch'), fever, chills, cough, or muscle aches. If not treated, it can cause serious long term health problems such as intestinal or bladder disease.

Sexually transmitted infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a group of viral, bacterial and parasitic infections spread during sexual intercourse or by intimate contact. Certain STIs can be more difficult to treat due to higher levels of antibiotic resistance and some STIs that are rare in the UK may be more common in other world regions. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of getting an STI wherever they are in the world. Risk is higher for travellers who: have sex without a condom, have sex with new or casual partners, engage in sex tourism, have sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Symptoms of STIs vary depending on the type of infection; some may only cause mild or unnoticeable symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can include a rash, discharge, itching, blisters, sores or warts in genital and/or anal areas, pain when peeing and flu like symptoms. If left untreated, STIs can cause serious long term health issues such as fertility problems, pelvic inflammatory disease and pregnancy complications.

Zika virus
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes which predominantly feed during daytime hours. A small number of cases of sexual transmission of ZIKV have also been reported. Most people infected with ZIKV have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are usually mild and short-lived. Serious complications and deaths are not common. However, ZIKV is a cause of Congenital Zika Syndrome (microcephaly and other congenital anomalies) and neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. There is a risk of Zika virus in this country. Details of specific affected areas within this country are not available, but information on current outbreaks where available will be reported on our outbreak surveillance database. Pregnant women should discuss the suitability of travel and the potential risk that Zika virus may present with their health care provider.

Important news

Oropouche virus disease: information for travellers and health professionals - 15 Aug 2025

Changes to the Country Information pages: Hepatitis B - 11 Jul 2024

Changes to the Country Information pages: Zika - 02 Jan 2024

Malaria: a reminder for travellers over the winter holiday season - 21 Dec 2023

Source and disclaimer

This travel health information is based on data supplied by NaTHNaC (the National Travel Health Network and Centre). All intellectual property rights in the data are owned by NaTHNaC. It must not be copied, reproduced, distributed, amended or offered for sale without NaTHNaC’s prior written consent.
Patient.info ensures that this information is reviewed and updated on at least a weekly basis. However, NaTHNaC’s data is accurate only as at the date it was prepared, and Patient.info is solely responsible for maintaining its accuracy and completeness after that date. NaTHNaC accepts no liability for the use of this data by Patient.info or its users.