Cambodia

Medical Summary

General Information

Cambodia is a developing nation classified as lower middle income. Located in Southeast Asia (west of Vietnam and east of Thailand), the climate is classified as predominantly humid equatorial (long dry season).

Vaccinations

Routine vaccinations are essential due to a persistent rise of vaccine-preventable diseases (especially markedly high rates of diphtheria, pertussis, and measles) globally. Prior to travel, travelers should be up-to-date with the age-appropriate routine vaccinations recommended by their home country, which may include: COVID-19; H. influenzae type B (Hib); hepatitis A; hepatitis B; influenza; measles, mumps, rubella; meningococcal; pneumococcal; polio; rotavirus; tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap preferred; consider an early pertussis booster for high-risk travelers); varicella.

Yellow Fever

See also: Library article for Yellow Fever

Although yellow fever does not occur in Cambodia, an official yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on your itinerary.

• Requirement: A certificate proving yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers aged ≥ 1 year coming from countries with risk of YF transmission. This also applies to airport transit stops (no exit through immigration checkpoint) longer than 12 hours in risk countries.

Other Vaccines

Depending on your itinerary, your personal risk factors, and the length of your visit, your health care provider may offer you vaccination against chikungunya, cholera, Japanese encephalitis, mpox, rabies, or typhoid fever.

Malaria

See also: Library article for Malaria

The following is current information as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

WHO—International Travel and Health (current online update, Country List)

(2020) Malaria risk due to P. falciparum and P. vivax exists throughout the year in forested rural areas. Phnom Penh and areas close to Tonle Sap (Siem Reap) are not at risk. Risk within the tourist area surrounding Angkor Wat is negligible. P. falciparum resistance to artesunate, mefloquine, lumefantrine, and piperaquine has been reported in western Cambodia and extends to the centre of the country. P. vivax resistance to chloroquine has been reported in eastern Cambodia.

• Recommended prevention: C – Risk of P. falciparum malaria, in combination with reported chloroquine and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine resistance. Mosquito bite prevention plus atovaquone–proguanil or doxycycline or mefloquine chemoprophylaxis (select according to reported side effects and contraindications) ^{a
  a}Alternatively, for travel to rural areas with low risk of malaria infection, mosquito bite prevention can be combined with stand–by emergency treatment (SBET).

WHO Country List footnote: When available, the date of the most recent update or confirmation is indicated in parentheses in the country list. If no date is indicated, the most recent update or confirmation was provided before 2013.

CDC—Health Information for International Travel (current online edition)

Areas with malaria: Present throughout the country, including Siem Reap city. None in the city of Phnom Penh or at the temple complex at Angkor Wat.

• Drug resistance³ : Chloroquine and mefloquine.
• Malaria species: P. falciparum 60%, P. vivax 40%.
• Recommended chemoprophylaxis: In the provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampot, Koh Kong, Odder Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Vihear, Pursat, and Siem Reap bordering Thailand: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or tafenoquine.⁴ All other Areas with malaria: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or tafenoquine.^{4
  3} Refers to P. falciparum malaria unless otherwise noted.
  ⁴ Primaquine and tafenoquine can cause hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD deficiency. Patients must be screened for G6PD deficiency before starting primaquine or tafenoquine. See Tafenoquine Approved for Malaria Prophylaxis and Treatment for more information.

Other Concerns

Travelers' Diarrhea

See also: Library article for Travelers' Diarrhea

Moderate risk exists throughout the country, including in deluxe accommodations. Community sanitation and food safety measures may be inadequate. Some itineraries (e.g., remote destinations, austere accommodations) and activities (e.g., ecotourism, eating street or local-market food) further increase risk.

Travelers should observe food and beverage precautions, which reduce the likelihood of illness.

Travelers should carry loperamide for self-treatment of diarrhea and, if risk is moderate to high, an antibiotic to add if diarrhea is severe. Consult a knowledgeable health care provider regarding which antibiotic is appropriate for you and most effective for your destination.

Other Food-Borne Illnesses

Precautions to prevent brucellosis may be needed.

Insect- and Arthropod-Borne Diseases

Dengue, leishmaniasis, murine typhus, scrub typhus, West Nile virus, Zika may pose a risk. Personal protective measures are important.

Other Disease and Health Risks

Additional concerns include avian influenza, enteroviruses, helminths, hepatitis C, leptospirosis, marine hazards, melioidosis, Nipah virus, plague, schistosomiasis, sexually transmitted infections, snakebites, tuberculosis.

Safety and Security

See also: Library article for Safety and Security

Key Safety Risks

• Road conditions and traffic collisions
• Petty crime
• Heightened crime risk for women

Key Security Threats

• Risk of terrorist attacks by transnational groups
• Potential spillover of armed conflict
• Risk of cross-border threats in areas bordering Thailand
• Landmines/unexploded ordnance
• Violent crime

Emergency Phone Number

The police emergency number is 117; the line may not be answered and local operators do not speak English.