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Travel Health Notices

Be aware of current health issues in Germany. Learn how to protect yourself.

 

Level 2 Practice Enhanced Precautions

  • Global Polio April 22, 2025 Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
    Destination List: Afghanistan, Algeria, and Northern Ireland, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Finland, French Guiana (France), Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Republic of South Sudan, Scotland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, The Gambia, Uganda, United Kingdom, including England, Wales, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Level 1 Practice Usual Precautions

  • Updated  Global Measles May 28, 2025 Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
    Destination List: , Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, and Austral Islands (Tubuai and Rurutu), and Banaba (Ocean Island), and Bora-Bora), and Kosrae), and Northern Ireland, and Rota Island, and St. Maarten, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla (U.K.), Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores (Portugal), Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda (U.K.), Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory (U.K.), British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands (Spain), Cape Verde, Cayman Islands (U.K.), Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island (Australia), Chuuk, Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia), Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands (New Zealand), Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Easter Island (Chile), Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Faroe Islands (Denmark), Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana (France), French Polynesia, including the island groups of Society Islands (Tahiti, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar (U.K.), Greece, Greenland (Denmark), Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam (U.S.), Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong (China), Hungary, Iceland, includes Tarawa, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza, Italy, including Holy See and Vatican City, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati (formerly Gilbert Islands), Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau (China), Madagascar, Madeira Islands (Portugal), Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marquesas Islands (Hiva Oa and Ua Huka), Marshall Islands, Martinique (France), Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte (France), Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat (U.K.), Moorea, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, including Bonaire, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue (New Zealand), Norfolk Island (Australia), North Korea, North Macedonia, Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.), including Saipan, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands (U.K.), Pohnpei, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico (U.S.), Qatar, Republic of South Sudan, Republic of the Congo, Réunion (France), Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saba, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena (U.K.), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (U.K.), South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Eustasius, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tabuaeran (Fanning Island), Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, including Zanzibar, Thailand, The Bahamas, The Federated States of Micronesia (Including Yap Islands, The Gambia, The Netherlands, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tinian, Togo, Tokelau (New Zealand), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye (Turkey), Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands (U.K.), Tuvalu, U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, including England, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wake Island, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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Vaccines and Medicines

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Vaccines for disease Recommendations Clinical Guidance for Healthcare providers
Routine vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

Immunization schedules

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see Your COVID-19 Vaccination for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Consider hepatitis A vaccination for most travelers. It is recommended for travelers who will be doing higher risk activities, such as visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where a traveler might get infected through food or water. It is recommended for travelers who plan on eating street food.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Vaccine dosing information - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Germany. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Germany.

Sex and Travel - CDC Yellow Book

Measles

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Polio

In Germany poliovirus has been identified in the past year.

Travelers to Germany are at increased risk of exposure to poliovirus.

Vaccine recommendations: Adults traveling to Germany who received a complete polio vaccination series as children may receive a single lifetime booster dose of inactivated polio vaccine; travelers who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should receive a complete polio vaccination series before travel. Children who are not fully vaccinated will be considered for an accelerated vaccination schedule.

Polio - CDC Yellow Book

Polio Vaccination for International Travelers

Rabies

Dogs infected with rabies are not commonly found in Germany.

If rabies exposures occur while in Germany, rabies vaccines are typically available throughout most of the country.

Rabies pre-exposure vaccination considerations include whether travelers 1) will be performing occupational or recreational activities that increase risk for exposure to potentially rabid animals and 2) might have difficulty getting prompt access to safe post-exposure prophylaxis.

Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel.

For more information, see country rabies status assessments.

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Tick-borne Encephalitis

For travelers moving or traveling to TBE-endemic areas

TBE vaccine is recommended for persons who will have extensive exposure to ticks based on their planned outdoor activities and itinerary.

TBE vaccine may be considered for persons who might engage in outdoor activities in areas ticks are likely to be found. 

Tick-borne Encephalitis - CDC Yellow Book

Yellow Fever

CDC recommendations: Vaccine is not recommended.

Country entry requirements: Vaccine is not required.

Yellow Fever - CDC Yellow Book

Yellow Fever Vaccine and Malaria Prevention Information, by Country

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Non-Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Disease Name Common ways the disease spreads Advice Clinical Guidance for Healthcare Providers

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis
  • Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
  • Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
  • Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine

Leptospirosis

Airborne & droplet

Hantavirus
  • Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
  • Bite from an infected rodent
  • Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
  • Avoid rodents and areas where they live
  • Avoid sick people

Post-Travel Evaluation to Rule Out Viral Special Pathogen Infection

Parvovirus B19
  • Virus droplets from a cough or sneeze getting in your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Direct contact with the virus, like kissing the face of a child with parvovirus B19
  • Touching a surface with the virus on it, like a doorknob, and then touching your face before washing your hands
  • An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby 
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Avoid sick people
  • Avoid crowded areas where you may be unable to maintain physical distance
  • People who have blood disorders (e.g. sickle cell or thalassemia), are immunocompromised, or are pregnant are at higher risk for severe disease. If you are in these groups and are exposed to or contract parvovirus B-19, contact your healthcare provider.

Preventing Parvovirus B19

Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.
  • Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)
  • Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
  • Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
  • Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
Advice
Clinical Guidance

Airborne & droplet

Hantavirus

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)
  • Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
  • Bite from an infected rodent
  • Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
Advice
  • Avoid rodents and areas where they live
  • Avoid sick people
Clinical Guidance

Parvovirus B19

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)
  • Virus droplets from a cough or sneeze getting in your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Direct contact with the virus, like kissing the face of a child with parvovirus B19
  • Touching a surface with the virus on it, like a doorknob, and then touching your face before washing your hands
  • An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby 
Advice
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Avoid sick people
  • Avoid crowded areas where you may be unable to maintain physical distance
  • People who have blood disorders (e.g. sickle cell or thalassemia), are immunocompromised, or are pregnant are at higher risk for severe disease. If you are in these groups and are exposed to or contract parvovirus B-19, contact your healthcare provider.
Clinical Guidance

Tuberculosis (TB)

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)
  • Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.
Advice
  • Avoid sick people
Clinical Guidance

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Stay Healthy and Safe

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Germany, so your behaviors are important.

 

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Eat and drink safely

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Prevent bug bites

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Stay safe outdoors

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Keep away from animals

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Reduce your exposure to germs

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Avoid sharing body fluids

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Know how to get medical care while traveling

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Select safe transportation

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Maintain personal security

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Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Germany for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

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After Your Trip

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel.

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Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.