Travel Health Advisory
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Source Authority
CDC Travelers' Health
Vaccines and Medicines
Expert VerifiedCOVID-19
All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please seeYour COVID-19 Vaccinationfor more information.
Chikungunya
There iselevated chikungunya riskin Brazil.Chikungunya vaccinationmay be considered for people traveling or moving to this location if they are planning to stay for an extended period of time (for example, 6 months or more).
Hepatitis A
Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Brazil.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.
Hepatitis B
Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Brazil. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Brazil.
Malaria
CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Brazil 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 areasAll areas in the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Rondônia, and RoraimaPresent in the states of Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Pará, but rare cases in their capital cities (São Luis [capital of Maranhão], Cuiabá [capital of Mato Grosso], Belém [capital of Pará])Rare cases and sporadic foci of transmission in rural and forested areas in the states of Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, São Paolo, and TocantinsNo malaria transmission in the cities of Brasília (the capital), Rio de Janeiro, or São PaoloNo malaria transmission at Iguaçu FallsDrug resistanceChloroquineSpeciesP. vivax(90%)P. falciparum(10%)Recommended chemoprophylaxisAtovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine2Areas with rare cases: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only)4Updated April 23, 2025See footnotes
Measles
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.
Rabies
Dogs infected with rabies are sometimes found in Brazil.Rabies is also commonly found in some terrestrial wildlife species and bats.If rabies exposures occur while in Brazil, 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.
Typhoid
Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.
Yellow Fever
CDC recommendations:Vaccine isrecommendedfor travelers ≥9 months old going to the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Distrito Federal (including the capital city, Brasília), Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro (including the city of Rio de Janeiro and all coastal islands), Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo (including the city of São Paulo and all coastal islands), Tocantins, and designated areas of Bahia; vaccination is also recommended for travelers going to Iguaçu Falls.Vaccine isnotrecommended for travel limited to any areas not listed above, including the cities of Fortaleza and Recife.Country entry requirements:Vaccine isnotrequired.Updated April 23, 2025
Non-Vaccine Diseases
Leptospirosis
Avoid contaminated water and soilAvoid floodwater
Melioidosis
Avoid floodwater and contact with soil or muddy water, particularly after heavy rainsBandage open wounds, cuts, or burns to protect them from coming into contact with soil or water
Schistosomiasis
Avoid contaminated water
Chagas disease (American Trypanosomiasis)
Avoid bug bites
Dengue
Avoid bug bites
Leishmaniasis
Avoid bug bites
New World Screwworm Myiasis
Avoid bug bitesClean and cover woundsSleep in a room with screened windows, or under a bed net, or inside a screened tentAvoid spending time around livestock
Zika
Avoid bug bites
Hantavirus
Avoid rodents and areas where they liveAvoid sick people
Tuberculosis (TB)
Avoid sick people
General Travel Advice
- Be up to date on routine vaccinations.
- See a doctor 4-6 weeks before travel.
- Carry a small first-aid kit.
"The information on this page is for general awareness. Please seek professional medical help for your specific travel needs."