Officials have urged Brits planning a holiday abroad to undertake one essential task at least four weeks before jetting off. This should not only ensure their safety but also their health while abroad.

According to the latest advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), holidaymakers should get medical advice well in advance of their travels. To be sufficiently prepared, they must seek guidance "four to six weeks" before their holiday, the UKHSA said.

On its website it said: "Ideally travellers should consult their GP, practice nurse, pharmacist, or travel clinic at least four to six weeks before their trip for individual advice, travel vaccines and malaria prevention tablets, if relevant for their destination."

Moreover, it's crucial for holiday-goers to:

  • Keep routine childhood vaccinations up to date
  • Get any necessary travel-related jabs
  • Carry ample supplies of required medicines, including antimalarial tablets
  • Obtain comprehensive travel insurance that covers the entire duration of your trip along with all planned activities
Vaccine
You can get certain vaccines for travel from the NHS

The guidance comes as reports indicate a rise in travel-linked enteric fever cases (which include typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever) across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. According to recent statistics, there were 702 reported instances in 2024, marking an increase of eight per cent from the 645 recorded cases in 2023.

"This represents the highest number of cases recorded annually to date," stated the UKHSA. A complimentary typhoid jab is available from GP surgeries for certain travellers, although no vaccine exists for paratyphoid.

Furthermore, imported malaria cases remain at "concerning levels" in the UK despite a slight decrease in diagnoses to 1,812 in 2024 from 2,106 in 2023. "These figures significantly exceed the levels seen in recent years," the UKHSA said.

Malaria is potentially fatal but almost entirely preventable when antimalarial tablets are taken correctly. If you're aware that you're travelling to a country where malaria is prevalent, you can obtain tablets from a GP, nurse, pharmacist or travel clinic before your departure.

Malaria is mainly found in tropical areas, including:

  • Large areas of Africa and Asia
  • Central and South America
  • Dominican Republic and Haiti
  • Parts of the Middle East
  • Some Pacific islands

Doctor Philip Veal, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: "We are seeing high levels of infections such as malaria and typhoid in returning travellers. It is important that travellers remain alert and plan ahead of going abroad – even if you're visiting friends and relatives abroad or it's somewhere you visit often.

"The Travel Health Pro website has information on how to keep yourself and family healthy, including what vaccines to get, any important medication such as anti-malaria tablets, and how to avoid gastrointestinal infections such as typhoid and hepatitis A. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive there are special precautions you should take, so please speak to a healthcare professional before planning your trip."

For information on necessary jabs for your chosen destination, visit travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries.