Europe: Travel Health, Risks & Local Support www.travelplanet.cc
Country directory with concise health-risk notes, national health authorities and leading international travel-medicine resources.
1. Pre-travel quick check
- 4–8 weeks before departure: Arrange a travel-medicine consultation; seek advice promptly even for last-minute travel.
- Vaccinations: Check your protection against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and seasonal influenza. In some regions (especially Central and Eastern Europe), TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) vaccination is recommended.
- Ticks & mosquitoes: Be aware of tick-borne diseases (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) and mosquito-borne diseases (West Nile virus, dengue in Southern Europe).
- Hygiene & food: Discuss safe food and water, diarrhoea prevention and a suitable travel medical kit.
- Medical access: Healthcare in Europe is generally good, but may be limited in rural areas. Travel health insurance with repatriation is recommended for non-EU citizens (EHIC for EU citizens).
- Special risks: Altitude sickness in the Alps, cold in Scandinavia, heat in Southern Europe (heatstroke, dehydration).
- Current conditions: Re-check current health warnings (e.g., measles outbreaks, West Nile virus) and local authority notices shortly before departure.
2. Leading travel-health institutes
Use these sources for destination-specific risk information and preparation. They should support—not replace—an individual clinical consultation.
Germany, Austria & Switzerland
- German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health (DTG)GermanyProfessional society for tropical medicine and travel medicine; provides evidence-based professional resources and links to specialist expertise.
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)HamburgMajor German research institute for tropical medicine and global health.
- Tropeninstitut.de – destination directoryGermany / DACHGerman-language destination pages for vaccines, malaria and other travel-health risks.
- Swiss TPH Travel ClinicBaselTravel-medicine consultation and tropical-medicine expertise.
- HealthyTravel.chSwitzerlandTravel-health information, vaccination and malaria guidance, and current news.
- Tropeninstitut WienAustriaTravel vaccinations and tropical/travel-medicine advice.
United States, United Kingdom & global
- CDC Travelers’ Health – destinationsUnited StatesOfficial U.S. destination-specific advice on vaccines, malaria prevention, food/water safety and health notices.
- CDC Yellow BookUnited StatesDetailed U.S. government travel-medicine reference for clinicians and travellers.
- TravelHealthPro / NaTHNaC – country directoryUnited KingdomUK travel-health information, country pages, outbreaks and professional resources.
- WHO Disease Outbreak NewsglobalOfficial international outbreak communications.
- WHO EuropeEuropeWHO information for the European Region.
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)EuropeEuropean agency for disease surveillance and control.
3. Northern Europe
For every country below, use the CDC destination directory and the TravelHealthPro country directory for current, detailed advice.
Norway
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE in coastal areas), cold and hypothermia during outdoor activities. Excellent medical care. No malaria.
Sweden
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE in certain regions), cold and hypothermia. Excellent medical care. No malaria.
Finland
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain coastal regions, extreme cold in winter. Excellent medical care.
Denmark
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis). Excellent medical care. No malaria.
Iceland
Key health risks: Cold, strong winds, hypothermia, geothermal activity (hot springs). Excellent medical care.
4. Western Europe
For every country below, use the CDC destination directory and the TravelHealthPro country directory for current, detailed advice.
United Kingdom
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis) in certain regions. Excellent medical care (NHS). No malaria.
Ireland
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis). Good medical care. No malaria.
France
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain regions. Isolated dengue cases possible in the south (Mediterranean coast). Excellent medical care.
Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg)
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis) in certain regions. Excellent medical care.
5. Central Europe
For every country below, use the CDC destination directory and the TravelHealthPro country directory for current, detailed advice.
Germany
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain regions (especially Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Thuringia, Saxony). Excellent medical care.
Austria
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in many regions, altitude sickness in the Alps. Excellent medical care.
Switzerland
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain regions, altitude sickness in the Alps. Excellent medical care.
Czech Republic
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in many regions. Good medical care.
Poland
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain regions. Good medical care in cities, limited in rural areas.
6. Southern Europe & Mediterranean
For every country below, use the CDC destination directory and the TravelHealthPro country directory for current, detailed advice.
Italy
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain regions; West Nile virus in northern Italy, isolated dengue cases. Heat in summer. Excellent medical care.
Spain
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis) in certain regions; West Nile virus, isolated dengue cases. Heat in summer. Excellent medical care.
Portugal
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis) in certain regions. Heat in summer. Excellent medical care.
Greece
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis) in certain regions; West Nile virus, isolated dengue cases. Heat in summer. Good medical care in cities, limited on islands.
Turkey
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, Crimean-Congo fever in certain regions); West Nile virus. Heat in summer. Medical care in major cities is good, limited in rural areas.
7. Eastern Europe & Balkans
For every country below, use the CDC destination directory and the TravelHealthPro country directory for current, detailed advice.
Croatia
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain regions. Good medical care in cities and tourist areas.
Hungary
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain regions. Good medical care.
Romania
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, TBE) in certain regions. Good medical care in cities, limited in rural areas.
Bulgaria
Key health risks: Ticks (Lyme borreliosis, Crimean-Congo fever in certain regions). Good medical care in cities, limited in rural areas.
8. Emergency & local care
- Medical emergency: Contact local emergency services (pan-European emergency number 112). Save the number before travel.
- Treatment or evacuation: Contact your travel insurer or assistance provider early where the medical situation permits.
- Red flags: Seek urgent medical help for high fever, breathing difficulty, altered consciousness, heavy bleeding, neurological symptoms, severe dehydration or rapid deterioration.
- After return: Seek prompt medical assessment for fever or significant symptoms after travel, and state every country/region visited and travel dates.
This directory must not be used for self-diagnosis or self-medication.
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