Travel Health Advisory

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please seeYour COVID-19 Vaccinationfor more information.

There is no longer active cholera transmission and vaccine is not recommended.

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to South Africa.Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.Travelers allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, are immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to South Africa. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to South Africa.

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of South Africa take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.Transmission areasAlong the border with Mozambique and ZimbabweKwaZulu-Natal Province: uMkhanyakude District; the districts of King Cetshwayo and Zululand (few cases)Limpopo Province: the districts of Mopani and Vhembe; the districts of Capricorn, Greater Sekhukhune, and Waterberg (few cases)Mpumalanga Province: Ehlanzeni DistrictKruger National ParkDrug resistanceChloroquineSpeciesP. falciparum(primarily)P. malariae,P. ovale, andP. vivax(less commonly)Recommended chemoprophylaxisKwaZulu-Natal Province (uMkhanyakude District); Limpopo Province (the districts of Mopani and Vhembe); Mpumalanga Province (Ehlanzeni District); and Kruger National Park: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine2All other areas with malaria transmission (including the districts of King Cetshwayo and Zululand in KwaZulu-Natal Province, and the districts of Capricorn, Greater Sekhukhune, and Waterberg in Limpopo Province): No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only)4Updated April 23, 2025See footnotes

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according toCDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

Dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in South Africa.Rabies is also present in some terrestrial wildlife species.If rabies exposures occur while in South Africa, rabies vaccines are typically available throughout most of the country.Rabies pre-exposure vaccination considerations include whether travelers 1) will be performing occupational or recreational activities that increase risk for exposure to potentially rabid animals and 2) might have difficulty getting prompt access to safe post-exposure prophylaxis.Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel.For more information, seecountry rabies status assessments.

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.