World Country Guide

1
Immunisation against typhoid is sometimes recommended.

2
Malaria risk, almost exclusively in the benign vivax form, exists in rural areas of the following states (in decreasing order of risk): Chiapas, Quintano Roo, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Chihuahua, Durango, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Sonora, Campeche, Guerrero, Michoacn and Jalisco. The recommended prophylaxis is chloroquine.

Food & drink
Water supplied in bottles and from taps marked ‘drinking/sterilised water’ in hotels can be drunk without precautions. All other water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk in major cities, hotels and resorts is pasteurised. Otherwise, milk is unpasteurised and should first be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks
Visceral and mucutaneous leishmaniasis occur. Dysenteries and diarrhoeal diseases are present. Hepatitis A occurs and hepatitis E has been reported. Dengue fever is predominant in the northern border states.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care
Health insurance is recommended. Medical facilities are very good and there are both private and state-organised hospitals, doctors, clinics and chemists. Medicines are often available without prescriptions, and pharmacists are permitted to diagnose and treat minor ailments. Owing to the high altitude of Mexico City, visitors may take some time to acclimatise to the atmosphere, particularly since its geographical location results in an accumulation of smog. The levels of pollution in Mexico City are extremely high and are considered a health threat, so precautions should be taken.