You can catch an infectious disease anywhere. But when you travel, you can be exposed to diseases that aren't common in Australia. Your level of risk depends on:
- where you're going
- what you're doing
- your personal health.
Know the risk
Before you travel, research the disease risks in the places you're going.
Use official sources when researching, such as:
- the travel advice for your destination
- the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
- HealthDirect
- the Travel Doctor
- the World Health Organisation.
Media reporting on disease outbreaks may not reflect the risk to you. Talk to your family doctor or a travel doctor about where you're going. They can give you advice based on your travel plans and medical needs.
Preventing infectious disease
How you can prevent disease depends on the type of disease and how it spreads.
Read our detailed advice about preventing infectious disease while you're travelling. Also see advice from the Australian CDC.
Health screening at international airports
Each country has its own health screening rules when you arrive. This is to help stop infectious diseases from crossing borders.
Officials may ask you to do things like:
- give your recent travel history
- show proof of vaccination
- have your temperature taken
- say if you've had any recent symptoms.
If you don’t meet requirements or refuse to be screened, you could be refused entry. If you have symptoms, you could be asked to have a further medical check or be quarantined. Each country or territory decides its own entry and exit rules.
Australian biosecurity
Travellers arriving in Australia go through our existing biosecurity processes. This includes screening for illness, in line with Australian policy and procedures.
Read more about Australia's biosecurity and border control.
See also
- Travel health advice, Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Biosecurity rules, Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry