Sweden
Travel Destination – Sweden
Sweden is renowned for its vast forests and modern cities that combine historic charm with contemporary design. Travellers can explore Stockholm’s archipelago, experience the northern lights in Lapland, or enjoy outdoor pursuits such as hiking, skiing, and wildlife observation.
The country offers a high quality of life, efficient transport systems, and a strong focus on sustainability, making it an appealing destination for both leisure and adventure travel. International travel still carries health considerations, and appropriate preparation remains essential to minimise risk and ensure a safe and comfortable journey.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Prior to travelling to Sweden, it is advisable to arrange a consultation with a travel health practitioner. This allows for a comprehensive review of your vaccination history, confirmation that routine immunisations are current, and discussion of any health risks relevant to your itinerary.
A travel doctor can provide tailored advice to your itinerary and season of travel, whether you are visiting urban centres, travelling extensively by train, or planning outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, or winter sports in remote regions. They can also prescribe necessary medications and advise on managing existing medical conditions while abroad.
Ideally, this consultation should occur six to eight weeks before departure to allow sufficient time for any recommended vaccinations. However, even if travel is imminent, a consultation remains beneficial for receiving up-to-date health advice and addressing last-minute concerns. Travellers should ensure they have comprehensive travel insurance covering medical care and evacuation.
Insect avoidance
In Sweden, the risk of insect-borne disease is generally low. However, ticks are common in forested, coastal, and grassy areas and can transmit infections such as lyme disease and, in some regions, tick-borne encephalitis.
Travellers engaging in outdoor activities should take precautions to minimise insect bites. This includes wearing long-sleeved clothing, using insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin, and performing thorough tick checks after spending time in natural environments. Prompt removal of ticks reduces the likelihood of disease transmission. Treating clothing with permethrin may provide additional protection for those spending extended time outdoors.
Food and water hygiene
Swedish cuisine offers a rich culinary experience, from fresh seafood and foraged berries to traditional dishes such as meatballs and gravlax. While food safety and hygiene standards are very high, travellers should still exercise standard precautions to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal illness.
Maintaining good hand hygiene before eating remains important, particularly when travelling or eating in busy settings. Food should be freshly prepared and properly stored, and care should be taken with buffet-style meals or outdoor dining where temperature control may vary. Tap water in Sweden is safe to drink and of excellent quality, but general food safety awareness continues to play a role in preventing illness
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 Sweden?
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious viral infection transmitted via particles in the air that can remain in the air for extended periods. Transmission can occur in enclosed or crowded environments such as airports, public transport and large events. It typically presents with fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and a characteristic spreading rash.
Travellers should ensure they have received two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) prior to departure, as vaccination provides highly effective protection. Those unsure of their vaccination status should seek medical advice before travel.
Influenza
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Influenza is a viral respiratory illness spread primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, as well as through contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms commonly include fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, and muscle aches.
The risk of transmission is increased in crowded and enclosed environments commonly encountered during travel, including airports, aircraft, public transport, and indoor venues. Seasonal peaks in Sweden occur during the winter months, although exposure can occur year-round.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all travellers aged six months and older and is particularly important for individuals at higher risk of complications.
COVID-19
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COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, transmitted through respiratory droplets, aerosols, and close contact, particularly in indoor or poorly ventilated settings. Symptoms range from mild respiratory illness to severe disease, including pneumonia, especially in vulnerable individuals.
International travel increases exposure risk due to time spent in enclosed areas such as aircraft cabins and crowded transit or tourist settings. Travellers should be up to date with COVID-19 vaccination in accordance with Australian recommendations, including booster doses, with six-monthly boosters for those aged 75 years and older and annual boosters for those aged 65 to 74, and additional doses for those with underlying health conditions where indicated.
Routine vaccinations
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Routine immunisations remain an important component of travel health for Sweden. Diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and measles continue to occur globally, even in developed countries, although rates are low in Australia due to widespread immunisation. A travel health consultation can confirm whether routine vaccinations are up to date and whether any boosters are required based on age, medical history, and individual risk factors.
Additional vaccinations may be advised depending on individual risk factors and travel plans, such as hepatitis B. Recommendations of other vaccines may vary depending on length and location of travel.
Sweden
Other health risks in Sweden
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis may occur in Sweden despite high standards of food safety and sanitation, most commonly due to viral transmission in community settings, contaminated food with bacteria, or inadequate hand hygiene. Symptoms can develop within one to three days of exposure, typically including diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort.
Management primarily revolves around maintaining adequate hydration with oral rehydration solutions where appropriate, as well as relieving other symptoms. While most cases are mild and resolve without complications, travellers should seek medical assessment if symptoms are severe, prolonged, or associated with signs of dehydration, fever, or blood in the stool.
Preventative measures include consistent and thorough hand hygiene, particularly before eating and after using the bathroom, as well as selecting food that is freshly prepared and properly handled. Avoiding food that has been left at room temperature for extended periods and exercising caution in high-traffic dining settings can further reduce the risk of illness.
Lyme disease
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Lyme disease is present in Sweden and is transmitted through the bite of infected ticks, particularly in southern and coastal regions and areas with dense vegetation. Travellers spending time outdoors are at increased risk, especially during spring and summer.
Early symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, and sometimes a characteristic expanding skin rash. As the rash is not always present, awareness of other symptoms is important. Preventing tick bites through appropriate clothing, use of insect repellent, and regular tick checks is essential. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly reduce the risk of long-term complications.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Sweden is widely considered a safe travel destination, with low rates of violent crime. Nevertheless, petty offences such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and theft can occur, particularly in larger cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö, as well as in busy tourist areas and public transport hubs. Travellers are advised to remain alert, secure personal belongings, and avoid openly displaying valuables.
Check the Australian government’s Smartraveller website for updates before and during travel.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Long-distance travel from Australia to Sweden increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins, most commonly in the legs, due to prolonged immobility during flights.
Preventative measures include regular movement during the journey, performing leg exercises while seated, and maintaining adequate hydration. Travellers with additional risk factors may benefit from graduated compression stockings. A pre-travel medical consultation can assist in assessing individual risk and providing tailored recommendations.