Cuba
Travel Destination – Cuba
Cuba is a destination unlike any other, blending lively music, classic cars, and beautifully preserved colonial architecture with warm Caribbean hospitality. From the pastel streets of Havana and the tobacco fields of Viñales to white-sand beaches and coral reefs, the island offers rich cultural experiences and natural beauty. Travellers are drawn to Cuba’s rhythm, history, and resilience. With limited medical resources in some areas, thoughtful preparation is essential for a smooth and enjoyable journey.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Prior to travelling to Cuba, arranging a consultation with a travel doctor is highly recommended. This appointment allows for personalised medical advice based on your itinerary, travel style, and health history, whether you plan to explore bustling cities, relax at beach resorts, or travel independently through rural regions.
Your doctor will review your vaccination record, advise on travel-specific immunisations, and provide prescriptions for essential medications. Ideally, schedule your visit six to eight weeks before departure to allow time for vaccines that require multiple doses. Even last-minute travellers can benefit from tailored advice, accelerated vaccine schedules, and strategies to reduce health risks while abroad.
Insect avoidance
Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya are present in Cuba, particularly during warmer and wetter months. Avoiding bug bites can also help prevent New World screwworm myiasis.
Choose accommodation with air conditioning or screened windows where possible. If unavailable, use a permethrin-treated mosquito net at night. Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants, especially during the day and early evening, and apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Additional protection includes permethrin-treated clothing.
Food and water hygiene
Cuban cuisine is flavourful and hearty, but careful food and water practices help prevent gastroenteritis and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Wash hands thoroughly or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser before eating. Avoid raw or undercooked foods and be cautious with buffets where food may sit at room temperature.
Street food is safest when cooked fresh and served hot. Fruits are best eaten when peeled, such as bananas, oranges, and mangoes. Drink bottled or treated water and avoid ice unless you are certain it has been made from purified water. These precautions significantly reduce the risk of travellers’ diarrhoea.
Rabies prevention
Australia is one of the few places worldwide free from rabies. In Cuba, rabies can be transmitted through bites or scratches from dogs and bats. Avoid contact with animals, including pets and wildlife, regardless of how friendly they appear.
Your travel doctor can advise whether pre-exposure rabies vaccination is appropriate, particularly for longer stays or travel to rural areas. If an animal bite or scratch occurs, seek immediate medical attention. Timely treatment after exposure is highly effective, while rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Cuba?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral infection affecting the liver and is commonly spread through contaminated food and water. It is more common in Cuba than in Australia, and many adults are not routinely vaccinated. Immunisation is strongly recommended for travellers who have not completed a two-dose course.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is caused by Salmonella bacteria and is contracted through contaminated food or water. Symptoms include persistent fever, fatigue, headache, and abdominal pain. A typhoid vaccine provides several years of protection and is often recommended for travellers spending extended time in Cuba or eating outside major resorts.
Hepatitis B
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The hepatitis B virus can cause long-term infection of the liver. Hepatitis B spreads through blood and bodily fluids and can be transmitted via unprotected sex, unsterile medical procedures, or shared personal items. While many Australians received hepatitis B vaccination in childhood, immunity is not universal. Vaccination is generally advised for travel to Cuba if you are travelling for long periods or have other risk factors.
Yellow Fever
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Yellow fever is not present in Cuba. However, proof of vaccination may be required if you are entering Cuba after travelling through a country where yellow fever is endemic. Your travel doctor can clarify current entry requirements based on your travel history.
Routine vaccinations
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Australia has high immunisation coverage, resulting in lower rates of diseases. However, in other countries, illnesses such as measles, tetanus, and influenza can circulate more widely. A travel health consultation ensures your routine vaccines are up to date, including measles-mumps-rubella, tetanus, influenza, COVID-19, and polio boosters if needed.
Cuba
Other health risks in Cuba
Dengue
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Dengue fever is transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes and is common in urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and rash. Prevention is essential as severe forms of dengue can occur, often in the context of repeat infections. Prevention relies on strict mosquito avoidance measures.
Rabies
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Australia is one of the few countries where transmission of the rabies virus does not occur. In Cuba, rabies is carried by dogs and other mammals and transmitted through their bites and scratches. Once symptoms have started, the illness is almost universally fatal. Prevention involves avoiding animals, even if they appear friendly. A vaccine is available for use prior to travel for those working with animals or travelling to areas of limited healthcare. If you get bitten by an animal in Cuba, seek urgent medical care for vaccination to protect against the development of symptoms, even if you have received earlier immunisation. Treatment needs to be started as soon as possible.
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis, sometimes referred to as travellers’ diarrhoea, can be caused by food or water contaminated with bacteria. Symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis typically begin within 24 to 72 hours and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
Maintaining hydration is the most important part of treatment, with oral rehydration solutions being helpful for replacing fluid and salts. Gastroenteritis usually resolves on its own in one to three days. Medical attention is required for atypical or prolonged symptoms, or if fluid loss is greater than fluid replacement. Antibiotics are only reserved for severe, prolonged, or complicated cases.
Prevention involves good hand hygiene before eating and avoidance of high-risk foods and drinks.
Non-infectious conditions
Deep vein thrombosis
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Extended air travel increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a condition where slowing blood flow can cause blood clots in the deep veins, usually in the legs. Reduce your risk by standing and walking periodically during flights, stretching your legs, and staying well hydrated. Travellers with additional risk factors may benefit from wearing compression stockings after medical advice.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Exploring Cuba can involve a range of road conditions and modes of transport, which can be unpredictable, with limited lighting and variable vehicle maintenance. Avoid night driving where possible and use reputable transport providers. If riding scooters or bicycles, wear appropriate protective gear and remain alert to road hazards.
Medical facilities and medications may be limited, so bring an adequate supply of personal medications and carry a basic first-aid kit. Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical treatment and evacuation is essential.
Crime and unrest
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Cuba is generally considered safer than many destinations in the region, but petty theft does occur, particularly in tourist areas. Stay aware of your surroundings and secure valuables. Before departure, consult the Smartraveller website for up-to-date Australian government travel advice.