Syria
Travel Destination – Syria
Syria sits at the crossroads of ancient trade routes connecting the Mediterranean to Persia and beyond, and the evidence of every civilisation that passed through it is still visible in the landscape. Damascus is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, and Aleppo accumulated layers of Hellenistic, Byzantine, Islamic, and Ottoman urban life in its citadel and covered souqs. Reconstruction and tourism access is gradually returning in parts, after it suffered damage from conflict.
Syria is also home to remarkable sites including Palmyra’s ancient ruins, the Crusader fortress of Krak des Chevaliers, and Bosra’s remarkably preserved Roman theatre. In the mountains, Maaloula retains a rare living tradition of Aramaic, adding to the country’s rich archaeological and cultural heritage.
Healthcare access is limited in many parts of Syria and access to medicines can be unreliable, so it pays to see a travel doctor and be well prepared before you go.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Arranging a travel medicine consultation before heading to Syria is essential, ideally six to eight weeks before departure to allow time for multi-dose vaccine schedules. Syria presents a range of serious infectious disease risks including leishmaniasis, cholera, and multiple vaccine-preventable diseases, all requiring careful assessment and personalised preparation. The severity and complexity of these risks, combined with limited health access, makes thorough preparation more critical here than in most destinations.
If a serious illness or injury occurs, medical evacuation is essential, expensive and difficult to arrange without appropriate travel insurance. Purchase comprehensive travel insurance and obtain all prescription medicines in Australia before departure.
Insect avoidance
Insect and tick-borne diseases are a risk in Syria, particularly leishmaniasis, which is transmitted by sandflies. Protection from bites is relevant throughout the full day as well as overnight.
Staying in air-conditioned or well-screened indoor areas significantly reduces exposure to sandflies, which are responsible for leishmaniasis transmission. When outdoors, apply insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin to all exposed skin and reapply regularly. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, and closed footwear, and tucking shirts into trousers, reduces the skin area available to biting insects. A permethrin-treated bed net should be used when sleeping without reliable insect-proof screening. There are no vaccines or preventive medications available against leishmaniasis, making personal protective measures the only available defence.
After time spent in grassy, rural, or scrubland terrain, checking carefully for attached ticks and removing any promptly is also worthwhile. Ticks in Syria can carry other infectious agents.
Food and water hygiene
Syrian cuisine is shaped by the country's position at the crossroads of Mediterranean and Levantine cooking. Kibbeh, fattoush, hummus, grilled kebabs, slow-braised lamb, and an extraordinary range of pastries and sweets reflect a cooking culture developed over centuries. Eating safely in Syria requires consistent attention to hygiene to reduce the risk of gastroenteritis. Cholera is a significant concern in Syria, and this makes food and water precautions more pressing than in many destinations.
All drinking and dental hygiene water should be bottled or appropriately purified, and ice of unknown origin should be avoided entirely. Washing hands thoroughly with soap before eating and after using the toilet is a primary preventive measure, and alcohol-based hand sanitiser should be carried for situations where running water is unavailable. Food that is freshly cooked and served hot carries the lowest risk. Raw salads, cold dishes of uncertain preparation, and street food in areas with compromised sanitation infrastructure should all be approached with care. Fruit should be peeled just before eating to reduce the risk of contamination.
Rabies prevention
Rabies occurs in Syria and can be transmitted through bites or scratches from infected dogs, bats and other mammals. Once clinical symptoms develop, rabies is almost invariably fatal, but timely post-exposure treatment is highly effective.
Any bite, scratch or contact between animal saliva and broken skin should be treated as significant. Wash the affected area immediately and thoroughly with soap and running water, then seek medical assessment as soon as possible, regardless of whether you have previously been vaccinated.
Avoiding contact with animals is the most effective way to reduce the risk of rabies. Do not touch or feed unfamiliar animals, do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not let animal saliva enter your eyes or mouth. If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately, as bat bites can be too small to see. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination should be considered for travellers whose activities or destination may involve animal exposure, particularly those who will be far from medical care.
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 Syria?
Hepatitis A
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The hepatitis A virus infects the liver and is spread through contaminated food or water, causing symptoms that range in severity from mild fatigue and nausea to prolonged jaundice and significant ill health. Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers to Syria. Given the widespread food and water safety challenges throughout the country, the risk of exposure applies across all settings. Two doses provide lasting long-term protection, and many Australians have not completed this course.
Typhoid
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Typhoid fever is a systemic bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria in contaminated food or water, producing a characteristic pattern of sustained high fever, headache, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort that can progress to serious complications without antibiotic treatment. Depending on itinerary, personal risk factors, and length of visit, vaccination against typhoid may be recommended. It is particularly relevant for those eating outside closely managed environments, visiting smaller towns or rural areas, or spending extended time in the country. Food and water hygiene remains an essential complement to vaccination throughout the stay.
Rabies
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Rabies occurs in Syria and can be transmitted through bites or scratches from infected dogs, bats and other mammals. Once clinical symptoms develop, rabies is almost invariably fatal, but timely post-exposure treatment is highly effective.
Any bite, scratch or contact between animal saliva and broken skin should be treated as significant. Wash the affected area immediately and thoroughly with soap and running water, then seek medical assessment as soon as possible, regardless of whether you have previously been vaccinated.
Avoiding contact with animals is the most effective way to reduce the risk of rabies. Do not touch or feed unfamiliar animals, do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not let animal saliva enter your eyes or mouth. If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately, as bat bites can be too small to see. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination should be considered for travellers whose activities or destination may involve animal exposure, particularly those who will be far from medical care.
Hepatitis B
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The hepatitis B virus is spread through infected blood and other bodily fluids, including through unprotected sexual contact, contaminated tattooing or piercing equipment, and medical or dental procedures involving inadequately sterilised instruments. Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for many travellers to Syria. Many Australians received this through childhood immunisation programs, but anyone unsure of their vaccination history should confirm their status with a travel doctor before departure.
Cholera
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Cholera is a bacterial infection caused by Vibrio cholerae in contaminated food and water, producing sudden, profuse, watery diarrhoea that can cause severe dehydration and become life-threatening without prompt treatment. Cholera can be a risk in Syria, making it a more pressing concern for travellers to this destination than in many others.
Oral cholera vaccine is recommended for some travellers to Syria, particularly those working in humanitarian settings, healthcare environments, or areas with severely compromised sanitation. A travel doctor can advise on suitability. Careful food and water hygiene provides an important baseline of protection for all travellers regardless of vaccination status.
Mpox
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Mpox is a viral infection spread mainly through close physical or intimate contact with an infected person. It can cause a characteristic rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache and muscle aches. Vaccination is not routinely recommended for all travellers to Syria, but may be appropriate for those with a higher likelihood of exposure, including travellers anticipating sexual or intimate contact with new partners. Discuss your individual risk and vaccination needs with a travel doctor before departure.
Routine vaccinations
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International travel can increase exposure to infections that are less common in Australia, making routine vaccination an important part of travel preparation. All standard immunisations should be confirmed as fully current before visiting Syria, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, and polio. A tetanus booster is especially relevant given that access to immunisation may be limited after an injury. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all travellers aged six months and over. COVID-19 vaccination should be current in line with Australian public health guidance, including booster doses for those aged 65 and over or with relevant underlying health conditions.
Syria
Other health risks in Syria
Gastroenteritis
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Disruption to water treatment infrastructure across many parts of Syria has significantly elevated the risk of gastroenteritis and gastrointestinal illness for travellers throughout the country, including in Damascus and other major urban centres. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites in contaminated food and water produce the familiar symptoms of diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting within one to three days of exposure. Oral rehydration is the primary treatment for uncomplicated cases. Medical attention should be sought promptly if symptoms are severe, contain blood, or are accompanied by fever.
Schistosomiasis
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Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a parasitic infection acquired when skin comes into contact with freshwater contaminated with the parasite. Travellers may be exposed through swimming, wading or bathing in untreated freshwater in areas where the disease occurs. There is no vaccine or preventive medication for schistosomiasis, so avoiding potentially contaminated freshwater is the most effective protection.
Leishmaniasis
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Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection transmitted through the bites of infected sandflies, which poses a risk in Syria. Leishmaniasis can affect the skin, causing persistent, slow-healing skin ulcers at the bite site. The form affecting the skin is the most common encountered by travellers, but the visceral form affects the internal organs and is potentially fatal without treatment.
No vaccine or preventive medication is available against Leishmaniasis, and the only protection is avoiding sandfly bites. Applying insect repellent, staying in screened or air-conditioned environments, and wearing protective clothing in the evenings are the practical measures that reduce exposure. Any persistent skin sore developing after travel to Syria should be assessed promptly by a doctor with travel history provided.
MERS-CoV
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Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a serious respiratory infection caused by MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The virus is primarily associated with dromedary camels, with human infection occurring through contact with infected animals or their products. Limited person-to-person spread can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings.
MERS has been reported across several Middle Eastern countries near Syria. There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for MERS, so travellers should avoid close contact with camels and practise good hand hygiene around animals.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne bacterial infection spread when a person with active disease coughs or speaks in a shared environment, primarily affecting the lungs and causing persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and gradual weight loss.
The disruption of public health services, mass population displacement, and overcrowded living conditions have increased tuberculosis transmission across Syria. Travellers in healthcare, humanitarian, or close community-contact roles face a meaningful level of exposure risk. TB screening before departure and after returning to Australia is strongly advisable for those in higher-risk categories. Any unexplained persistent cough following time in Syria should be assessed by a general practitioner with full travel history provided.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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The Australian Government’s Smartraveller advises travellers to check safety conditions before planning travel to Syria, where serious security risks exist throughout the country. These include armed conflict, terrorism, kidnapping, hostage-taking, violent crime and arbitrary detention, with conditions capable of changing rapidly and without warning.
Serious crime, including armed robbery, carjacking and kidnapping, occurs across Syria, while landmines and unexploded ordnance remain hazards in former conflict zones and some residential areas. Travellers should keep vehicle doors locked and windows closed, and avoid areas affected by conflict or unexploded ordnance.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Road travel throughout Syria carries risks that go well beyond standard road safety concerns. Armed checkpoints, militia-controlled routes, unexploded ordnance on roads outside major urban centres, and the risk of carjacking and ambush all affect intercity movement. All travel should be planned with professional security guidance and conducted with verified, trusted local operators. Night driving anywhere in the country must be avoided entirely.
Heat-related illness
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Extreme heat during summer months, when temperatures in inland and desert regions regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius, represents a genuine physical health hazard. Consistent hydration, avoidance of strenuous outdoor activity during the midday and afternoon hours, wearing sun-protective lightweight clothing, and applying sunscreen when outdoors are all important daily considerations for travellers in Syria during the warmer months.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Blood clots can form in the deep veins of the legs, referred to as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can form during long flights or other modes of transport when prolonged sitting slows blood flow. Travelling from Australia to Syria often involves a regional connection, with total journey times commonly exceeding 15–18 hours.
Walking around the cabin regularly, performing seated exercises such as ankle rotations and calf raises, and staying hydrated can help reduce the risk of DVT. Travellers with risk factors such as previous blood clots, recent surgery, pregnancy, hormonal contraceptive use or significant overweight should discuss whether compression stockings are appropriate with a travel doctor before departure.