Honduras

Mosquitoes and other insects in Honduras can transmit a range of infectious diseases, particularly in coastal, rural, and low-lying regions. Mosquitoes can carry dengue, zika virus, chikungunya, and malaria in certain parts of Honduras. Other insect borne diseases include leishmaniasis which is spread by sandflies, New World screwworm myiasis spread by flies, and Chagas disease spread by triatomine bugs. Because insect exposure is common in many parts of Honduras, bite prevention is an essential part of travel health planning.

Travellers can reduce their risk by staying in air-conditioned accommodation or rooms fitted with well-maintained window and door screens. Where this is not available, sleeping under a bed net provides additional protection. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and covered footwear is recommended when outdoors, especially during early morning and evening hours when mosquitoes are most active. Insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus should be applied to exposed skin, and clothing or travel gear can be treated with permethrin for added protection.

Honduran cuisine draws on Indigenous, Spanish, and Caribbean influences, often featuring fresh seafood, meats, rice, beans, and tropical produce. Gastroenteritis is relatively common among travellers to Honduras and is most often caused by consuming contaminated food or water. Careful attention to food and water hygiene can significantly reduce the risk of traveller's diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal infections.

Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water, or cleaned with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, before eating. Travellers are advised to avoid raw or undercooked foods, particularly meat and seafood, and to choose meals that have been freshly cooked and served hot. Fruit and vegetables are safest when they can be peeled prior to consumption, such as bananas, oranges, and mangoes. Drinking water should be bottled, boiled, or properly filtered, and ice should be avoided unless it is certain to have been made from treated water.

Rabies is a viral disease that can be spread through animals such as dogs and bats in some parts of the world. Unlike Australia, rabies is present in Honduras and can be transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals, particularly dogs and bats. Travellers should avoid contact with animals, including feeding or handling them.

Rabies vaccination may be recommended for travellers spending extended periods in Honduras, visiting remote areas, or working with animals. Your travel doctor can advise whether pre-exposure vaccination is appropriate for you. Any animal bite or scratch requires urgent medical assessment. Timely treatment is essential because rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.