"You don't need medical advice for Australia"

Or do you?
Let's start with the sun. Two out of three Australians will develop skin cancer at least once in their lifetime and around 1500 die from it every year. The sun in Australia is merciless. Even a cloudy sky can quickly end in a severe sunburn if you don't protect yourself adequately. Especially when surfing or on a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef. There, exposure to the sun is even higher. You should protect yourself with waterproof sun cream (at least SPF 50) or, even better, a long-sleeved shirt, rooftop cap (the kind most often worn in Australia would be the fisherman's hat) and a zinc stick for your face. Don`t forget to be sure to cover or apply sunscreen to your legs (especially the backs of the knees).

What else should I keep in mind?

The journey from Switzerland to Australia is very inconvenient and long. People with a higher risk of thrombosis (e.g. from contraceptives use or family history) should use support stockings or even consider a blood thinner. Come and see us at the Travel Clinic UZH or ask your family doctor for advice.

^{Australia: a paradise for all surfers and sunset lovers.}

Is it safe in Australia?

Weather extremes have increased in Australia in recent years. Cyclones, in particular, cause significant damage. In December 2023, Cyclone Jasper devastated Queensland and shut down the Daintree region with 62.4 cm of rainfall within 24 hours.

The risk of accidents while traveling are unfortunately often underestimated by travelers. Accidents are actually the most common cause of death amongst all tourists. Please remember to utilize these tips to keep yourself as safe as possible when traveling:  wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, stay focused when diving (no nicotine or alcohol) and watch out for currents when surfing.

Terrestrial and aquatic poisonous animals

When you think of Australia, you automatically think of snakes and spiders. However, these animals are very shy and and normally run away when they feel vibration (ie someone getting close to them). By staying on marked trails/footpaths and not walking through the brush, you can usually avoid these animals. If you do walk through tall grass, you should make loud noises or scare the animals away with a rustling stick.

^{Not for the faint-hearted: spiders of all shapes and sizes.}

The greater risk can be found in the ocean. A house right by the sea in northeast Queensland (e.g. Cairns) is not as idyllic as you might imagine. The water is teeming with cube jellyfish (such as box jellyfish and irukandji), contact with which can be life-threatening and very painful. November to May is marine stinger season. You can swim in the sea with a "stingsuit" in restricted areas, but you should still be careful. The further north you go, the more dangerous a dip in the sea becomes, as crocodiles could be lurking in the salt water.

^{At up to 7 meters long, the Australian saltwater crocodile is the largest in the world.}

Finally, keep in mind our blogpost about "Responsible Traveling". Don't just look after yourself, but also your surroundings. Do not touch corals when snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, both to protect yourself and to preserve this colorful spectacle. 

What about mosquito borne diseases?

The floods provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, which can then multiply and spread. And with this spread, viral and bacterial mosquito diseases become more frequent. It also means that mosquito borne diseases, which are otherwise more common in tropical and subtropical regions, are shifting to unfamiliar regions. In 2022, for example, there was an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in New South Wales and Murray Valley (45 cases were reported). The virus had previously only been found in Asia. A JEV infection can cause inflammation of the brain and can be very serious but a vaccine for this virus exists.

Other mosquito-borne diseases should also not be underestimated - Dengue or Ross River Fever can occur in northeast Queenslandand. Effective mosquito protection (long clothing and repellents) is therefore recommended at all times. 

Summary: Relevance

Japanese encephalitis:               

Dengue:                                               

Rabies:                                                 

Safety: