Travel Health in 2026: Vaccines, Risks and What the Hondius Outbreak Changes

The MV Hondius Andes virus outbreak has reminded the world that travel health is not just about airport security and travel insurance. Here is the complete guide to pre-travel health — what vaccinations you need, what risks most people overlook, and what has changed in 2026.

On 1 April 2026, the MV Hondius departed Ushuaia in Argentina with 147 passengers and 72 crew from 23 nationalities. By 6 May, three passengers had died and five cases of Andes virus — the only hantavirus known to spread between humans — had been confirmed. The WHO is working on the assumption that the first infections came from a pre-cruise bird-watching trip through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay that included visits to sites where the rodent species known to carry the virus was present.

There is no vaccine for Andes virus. There was nothing on the pre-travel checklist of any of those passengers that would have flagged it. This is not a failure of travel medicine — it is a reminder of its limits, and of the broader category of travel health risk that sits outside the standard vaccination conversation.

Most people who travel internationally think about travel health in terms of jabs. Hepatitis A, typhoid, malaria tablets if going to Africa or Asia. Tick the boxes, get on the plane. This framing is not wrong — vaccinations are the most important and most actionable pre-travel health intervention available. But the MV Hondius story illustrates that the conversation is broader than that.

TL;DR

• The optimal window for pre-travel health planning is six to eight weeks before departure — this allows time for multi-dose vaccines to be completed and for immunity to develop.
• Several travel vaccines are available free on the NHS: hepatitis A, typhoid, diphtheria/polio/tetanus booster, and cholera. Most others — rabies, hepatitis B, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis — are private.
• In 2025, the CDC included the UK in travel health advisories for measles and polio — a reminder that outbound UK travellers need to check their routine immunisation status alongside destination-specific vaccines.
• The MV Hondius outbreak came from wildlife exposure in Patagonia — a reminder that some of the most significant travel health risks are environmental and behavioural, not preventable by vaccination.

There is no vaccine for Andes virus, dengue fever (broadly), or many of the most common travel illnesses including travellers' diarrhoea. Non-vaccine precautions matter as much as the jabs.

Measles is rising across Europe in 2026 — an MMR check is relevant for all international travellers, not just those going to high-risk destinations.

Why Travel Health Is More Than Vaccinations

The MV Hondius case makes this point more forcefully than any general guidance could.

The first passengers to become infected appear to have encountered Andes virus during wildlife activities in Patagonia — visiting sites where the pygmy rice rat, the primary host of Andes virus, was present. No vaccine exists for Andes virus. No standard pre-travel consultation would have flagged it as a risk for a cruise departing from Ushuaia. The prevention, in retrospect, would have been behavioural: avoiding rodent habitats, not disturbing nesting sites, and knowing the early symptoms well enough to seek assessment quickly.

This is not an isolated example. Some of the most significant travel health risks are either not vaccine-preventable or are under-addressed in standard pre-travel consultations:

• Travellers' diarrhoea — affects 20 to 50% of international travellers and is the most common travel-related illness. Not vaccine-preventable in most cases. Prevented through food and water hygiene — avoiding tap water, ice, street food prepared without adequate hygiene, and unpeeled raw fruit and vegetables in high-risk destinations.
• Sun, heat, and altitude — responsible for significant illness and death in travellers to hot, sunny, or high-altitude destinations. Not vaccine-related. Prevented through sun protection, heat acclimatisation, adequate hydration, and altitude sickness awareness and medication for relevant destinations.
• Insect-borne diseases — dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, and many others have no widely available vaccine. Prevented through insect repellent (DEET-containing products), appropriate clothing, and mosquito net use.
• Zoonotic infections — Andes virus sits in this category alongside rabies, brucellosis, leptospirosis, and others that can be acquired through contact with animals or their environments during travel. Rabies has a vaccine. Most others do not. Prevention is behavioural.

A complete pre-travel health approach addresses all of these — not just the vaccination checklist.

The Vaccination Checklist: What UK Travellers Need to Know

Routine Vaccinations: Check These First

Before considering destination-specific vaccines, every UK traveller should confirm their routine immunisation status is current. This is the most commonly overlooked element of pre-travel health preparation.

The CDC included the UK in travel health advisories for measles and polio in 2025 — a striking development that reflects declining MMR vaccination rates in parts of the UK and the ongoing circulation of measles across Europe. If you were born before 1970, you are likely to have natural immunity from childhood measles infection. If you were born after 1970 and did not receive two doses of MMR, you may not be fully protected.

Routine vaccinations to check before international travel:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) — two doses are needed for full protection. Measles is circulating across Europe and many other regions in 2026. This matters for any international travel, not just visits to known high-risk destinations.
• DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio) — a combined booster is recommended every ten years and is available free on the NHS. Many adults are overdue. Polio remains a risk in several countries and the NHS recommends a booster within ten years of the previous dose before visiting affected regions.
• Chickenpox — adults who have not had chickenpox and have not been vaccinated are at risk in many destinations where the virus circulates. Worth checking if you are unsure of your history.

Destination-Specific Vaccines: Free on the NHS

Several travel vaccines are available without charge through NHS GP surgeries and pharmacies for those travelling to destinations where they are recommended:

• Hepatitis A — recommended for most destinations outside Northern and Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Transmitted through contaminated food and water. Highly effective vaccine, available free on the NHS, can protect even when given close to departure.
• Typhoid — recommended for travel to South Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of South America and the Middle East. Transmitted through contaminated food and water. Free on the NHS.
• Cholera — an oral vaccine available free on the NHS for travel to high-risk destinations. Particularly relevant for travellers to refugee situations, disaster zones, or areas with poor sanitation infrastructure.

DTP booster — free on the NHS when a booster is due before travel to affected regions.

Destination-Specific Vaccines: Private

Several important travel vaccines are not available free on the NHS and require booking through a private travel clinic or pharmacy:

• Yellow fever — required for entry to several countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South America, and recommended for travel to endemic zones regardless of entry requirements. Only administered at authorised yellow fever vaccination centres. A single dose provides lifelong protection for most people. Cost approximately £65 to £75.
• Hepatitis B — recommended for travellers who may have medical procedures abroad, engage in activities with potential blood or body fluid exposure, or are travelling long-term to high-prevalence regions. A three-dose course over six months, or accelerated schedules available. Approximately £50 per dose privately.
• Rabies — recommended for extended stays or outdoor activities in many destinations, particularly those involving wildlife contact. Three doses required for pre-exposure protection. Given that the MV Hondius passengers potentially encountered wildlife in Patagonia, rabies pre-exposure vaccination is worth considering for any adventure travel involving wildlife or remote areas. Not because Andes virus is the same as rabies — it is not — but because the same wildlife exposure that puts you at risk from one zoonotic infection puts you at risk from others.
• Japanese encephalitis — recommended for rural travel in Asia, particularly during the monsoon season when transmission is highest.
• Meningitis ACWY — required for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage, recommended for travel to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Middle East.
• Mpox — according to the UK Health Security Agency's 2025 epidemiological overview, there have been recent mpox cases in England. The JYNNEOS vaccine is commercially available in the UK and is recommended for people at higher risk, including those travelling to affected regions with potential exposure.

Malaria: Tablets Not a Vaccine

Malaria requires antimalarial medication rather than vaccination. The appropriate medication depends on the destination, duration of travel, and individual health factors. Options include atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, mefloquine, and chloroquine — all requiring prescription. No single antimalarial is appropriate for all destinations and all travellers. A pharmacist or travel clinic can advise on the correct choice based on your specific itinerary.

The Patagonia and South America Specific Risks

Given the MV Hondius outbreak, it is worth specifically addressing the travel health picture for Patagonia, Argentina, and Chile — one of the world's most popular adventure travel destinations.

• Andes virus and hantavirus — no vaccine exists. The primary prevention is avoiding exposure to rodents and their habitats: not disturbing woodpiles, not sweeping out rural buildings that may have rodent activity, not camping near rodent burrows or nesting sites. Ventilate closed spaces before entering them. If you develop fever, muscle aches, and headache within one to five weeks of visiting rural or wildlife areas in Patagonia, disclose your travel history immediately to a doctor and seek emergency assessment.
• Dengue fever — present in northern Argentina and Brazil but generally lower risk in southern Patagonia. Use DEET-containing insect repellent in warmer months in relevant areas.
• Altitude sickness — relevant for travel in the Andes at higher elevations. Acclimatise gradually, avoid alcohol on arrival at altitude, and consider acetazolamide (Diamox) for travel above 2,500 to 3,000 metres — available on prescription from a GP.
• Water and food hygiene — in urban areas including Buenos Aires and Santiago, food and water safety is generally good. In more remote rural areas, the usual precautions apply.
• Rabies — present in Argentina and Chile. Pre-exposure vaccination is worth considering for anyone planning extensive outdoor or wildlife activity.

How and When to Arrange Pre-Travel Health in the UK

The optimal planning window is six to eight weeks before departure — this allows time for multi-dose vaccine courses to be completed and for immunity to develop.

NHS routes: Hepatitis A, typhoid, DTP booster, and cholera vaccines are available through NHS GP surgeries and pharmacies. Book an appointment well in advance — waiting times can be significant in busy practices. Many community pharmacies can now administer travel vaccines without a GP referral, which reduces access barriers considerably.

Private travel clinics: Yellow fever, hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, and most other private vaccines are available through travel clinics and pharmacies. Many clinics and pharmacies offer same-day consultations and fast-track vaccines for last-minute travellers, though early planning remains preferable.

Key resources for destination-specific advice:

• TravelHealthPro — the National Travel Health Network and Centre's primary resource, updated regularly with country-specific advice
• NHS Fit for Travel — NHS Scotland's comprehensive travel health resource
• FCDO travel advice — Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office country-by-country guidance including health risks
• CDC Traveler's Health — comprehensive US guidance applicable to international travellers

What the MV Hondius Case Changes for Travel Medicine

The MV Hondius outbreak has catalysed a conversation in travel medicine that was previously theoretical. Expedition cruises and adventure travel to remote, wildlife-rich destinations have grown enormously in popularity — Patagonia, Antarctica, the Amazon, the Galapagos. These itineraries place travellers in environments where the standard vaccination checklist is the least of the relevant health considerations.

According to an infectious disease specialist, if person-to-person transmission of Andes virus aboard the MV Hondius is confirmed, it "will change the future of travel medicine and infectious disease and tropical medicine."

The specific changes likely to follow are pre-travel risk briefing for rodent-borne infections in endemic regions — something that is not currently standard in travel consultations for South American destinations — and heightened surveillance protocols for expedition vessels departing from Patagonia.

For individual travellers, the broader lesson is that pre-travel health preparation for adventure or expedition travel should be proportionally more thorough than for package holidays to well-visited tourist destinations. The same adventurousness that makes these trips compelling also creates exposures that conventional travel medicine frameworks were not designed to address.

Frequently Asked Questions

What vaccinations do I need before travelling abroad from the UK?

This depends entirely on your destination. All travellers should first confirm their routine UK vaccinations are current — particularly MMR and DTP — before considering destination-specific vaccines. For most travel outside Northern and Western Europe and North America, hepatitis A is recommended. Typhoid is recommended for South Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of South America. Yellow fever is required for entry to several countries in Africa and South America. A travel health consultation at a pharmacy, travel clinic, or GP surgery six to eight weeks before departure is the most reliable way to get personalised, destination-specific advice.

Which travel vaccines are free on the NHS?

Hepatitis A, typhoid, diphtheria/polio/tetanus booster, and cholera are available free on the NHS when recommended for your travel destination. Yellow fever, hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, and meningitis ACWY are typically charged privately. Many community pharmacies can administer both NHS and private travel vaccines without a GP referral.

Is there a vaccine for Andes virus or hantavirus?

No — there is currently no approved vaccine for any hantavirus, including Andes virus. Prevention relies entirely on avoiding exposure to rodents and their habitats. In Patagonia and other hantavirus-endemic areas, this means not disturbing rodent nesting sites, avoiding sweeping enclosed spaces with rodent activity without ventilation, and not camping in areas with visible rodent presence.

How early should I get travel vaccinations?

The optimal window is six to eight weeks before departure. Some multi-dose vaccines — rabies (three doses), hepatitis B (three doses) — require this lead time to complete the course before travel. Some vaccines, like hepatitis A, can provide protection even close to departure. Malaria prevention medication often needs to be started one to two weeks before entering a malaria zone. The earlier you plan, the more options are available.

What travel health risks are not covered by vaccinations?

Several significant travel health risks are not vaccine-preventable: travellers' diarrhoea (20 to 50% of international travellers), dengue fever and most mosquito-borne illnesses in many regions, heat and altitude illness, zoonotic infections including hantavirus and many others, and sun-related illness. Non-vaccine precautions — food and water hygiene, insect repellent, appropriate clothing, altitude acclimatisation, and wildlife awareness — are as important as the vaccination checklist for many destinations.

What should I do if I feel ill after returning from travel?

Seek medical assessment promptly and always disclose your travel history — destinations visited, activities undertaken, and any wildlife or environmental exposures. Many travel-related illnesses have incubation periods that mean symptoms appear days to weeks after return. Malaria can present up to a year after exposure. Hantavirus has an incubation period of one to five weeks. A GP or emergency department needs your travel history to consider the correct diagnoses.

The Bottom Line

The MV Hondius outbreak is a striking and tragic illustration of a category of travel health risk that sits outside the standard vaccination conversation — wildlife exposure, environmental infection, and the specific epidemiological characteristics of remote and expedition travel. There is no vaccine for Andes virus. The most powerful preventive measures were behavioural and informational rather than pharmaceutical.

This does not diminish the importance of travel vaccinations — which remain the most evidence-backed and most impactful pre-travel health intervention available. It contextualises them. A complete pre-travel health approach combines up-to-date vaccinations with destination-specific risk awareness, food and water hygiene, insect precautions, and the knowledge of what to do and who to tell if illness develops after return.

For any international travel, a consultation at a travel clinic or pharmacy six to eight weeks before departure is the most accessible way to get personalised, evidence-based pre-travel health guidance. TravelHealthPro and NHS Fit for Travel provide comprehensive, regularly updated free resources for destination-specific planning.

For the lifestyle foundations that support immune resilience during travel — sleep, nutrition, and stress management — the Sleep Reset and Stress Reset from the Reset Series™ address the factors that most directly affect how well the body handles new environmental exposures. Pair either with the Reset Companion for personalised, in-context guidance as you prepare for travel.

Related reading: Andes Virus: Why the MV Hondius Outbreak Has Changed Everything · What Is Hantavirus? The MV Hondius Outbreak Explained

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