Short answer: CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccine for unvaccinated travellers aged one year or older and typhoid vaccine for most travellers, and advises seeing a doctor at least a month before you leave. Drink only bottled, boiled or filtered water, avoid swimming in the Nile or other fresh water, and limit activity in the hottest hours.
Key facts
- Hepatitis A
- Recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged one year or older (CDC, reviewed 25 August 2026)
- Typhoid
- Recommended for most travellers (CDC); some travellers (TravelHealthPro)
- Malaria
- No risk; WHO certified Egypt malaria-free in 2024 (TravelHealthPro)
- Yellow fever
- No risk, but a certificate is required from risk countries (TravelHealthPro)
- Drinking water
- Boiled, filtered or bottled (TravelHealthPro)
- Fresh water
- Avoid wading, swimming or bathing because of schistosomiasis (TravelHealthPro, CDC)
- Ambulance
- 123 (GOV.UK)
Which vaccines are advised for Egypt?
Hepatitis A is the one vaccine every major source agrees on. CDC recommends it for unvaccinated travellers aged one year or older, and TravelHealthPro lists it as recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers. Beyond that, the two agencies group the other vaccines differently, as the table shows.
| Vaccine | CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026) | TravelHealthPro |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged 1 year or older | Most travellers |
| Typhoid | Recommended for most travellers | Some travellers; may be considered for those at increased risk |
| Hepatitis B | Recommended for unvaccinated travellers under 60; may be given to those 60 and over | Some travellers; Egypt has intermediate or high prevalence |
| Rabies | Ask a provider whether pre-exposure vaccination suits you | Some travellers; advised for higher-risk activities and stays over one month |
| Tetanus | Part of routine vaccines | Most travellers if the last dose was over ten years ago and care may be limited |
| Measles (MMR) | All international travellers should be fully vaccinated | Not covered in the Egypt page we read |
TravelHealthPro also lists dengue vaccination as something to consider for people aged four and older who have had dengue before. CDC says routine vaccines should be up to date before every trip. The two agencies differ on typhoid, so ask a travel nurse or doctor which description fits your age and plans.
Related tripsFamily Egypt toursPrivate trips with short site mornings and rest time.How early should you see a doctor?
Book an appointment at least a month before the trip, according to CDC. The UK government says to check the latest vaccine advice at least 8 weeks before you travel, and the NHS gives a window of 4 to 6 weeks for advice from a travel health professional. The shortest of these gives you time for a course that needs more than one dose.
The NHS says cholera, polio, hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines are free at a GP surgery in England after a risk assessment, while hepatitis B and rabies are paid for. That is NHS policy for UK residents, so travellers from other countries should ask their own health service. Do not be vaccinated while unwell with a fever, the NHS adds, and tell the clinician about any pregnancy or weakened immune system.
Do you need a yellow fever certificate?
Only if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever. TravelHealthPro says there is no yellow fever risk in Egypt, but a certificate requirement exists. It applies to arrivals over 9 months of age from risk countries, or after more than 12 hours in an airport in one.
CDC does not recommend the vaccine for Egypt and says direct travel from the US does not require it. It also says travellers arriving from risk countries must have it, including those on layovers of over 12 hours. TravelHealthPro adds that proof of polio vaccination may be necessary for some travellers and directs readers to WHO for the current requirements.
Is there malaria in Egypt?
No. The World Health Organization certified Egypt malaria-free on 20 October 2024, and TravelHealthPro says there is no risk of malaria in the country. It still advises bite avoidance, because other infections spread through insect bites.
CDC lists dengue, leishmaniasis, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and African tick-bite fever among the insect-borne risks. TravelHealthPro says there are no vaccines or medicines for several of these, so repellent matters. CDC advises repellent with 20 percent or more DEET for ticks and mosquitoes, long sleeves and trousers, and screened or air-conditioned rooms.
CDC also lists other repellents for mosquitoes only, including picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (also called PMD), IR3535 and 2-undecanone, and says higher concentrations last longer. It suggests permethrin-treated clothing and gear such as socks and boots, and warns never to use permethrin directly on skin. After outdoor activity, check your whole body for ticks and remove any you find. If a bite itches, CDC says to avoid scratching and use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion.
Is the water safe to drink?
Drink water that is boiled, filtered or bottled. That is TravelHealthPro’s advice for Egypt, and CDC says not to drink tap water where it may be contaminated, to brush your teeth with bottled or disinfected water and to avoid ice where water quality is questionable.
- Check that a bottle’s seal is intact. CDC warns about tampered seals.
- Skip ice unless you know where it came from.
- Use bottled water to brush teeth and to wash fruit.
- Hot tea and coffee are safe if served steaming hot, according to CDC.
- Avoid fountain drinks and freshly squeezed juice made by others, per CDC.
What is safe to eat?
Hot, freshly cooked food is the safest choice. TravelHealthPro advises food that is freshly prepared, fully cooked and served hot, and CDC adds that you should avoid lukewarm buffet items, raw salads and cut fruit.
The same advice applies in a smart hotel. TravelHealthPro’s reminder of 30 March 2026 says to practise good food and water hygiene at all times, even in high-end, all-inclusive resorts. It reports that stomach bugs rose in travellers returning from Egypt, Mexico, Tunisia and Turkey between July and mid-October 2023, many of whom had stayed at all-inclusive resorts.
That does not mean avoiding street food. CDC says that if you eat it, choose items cooked and steaming hot and avoid raw vegetables. Peel fruit yourself, wash your hands before eating and use a hand sanitiser with at least 60 percent alcohol when soap is not available.
What should you do about an upset stomach?
Drink plenty of safe fluids and use oral rehydration solution. TravelHealthPro says to seek medical help if diarrhoea or vomiting lasts more than a few days or does not improve. It advises early medical advice for babies and young children, older adults, pregnant women, people with weakened immunity and people with ongoing conditions.
- Start oral rehydration solution at the first loose stool.
- Keep sipping safe water between meals.
- Stay out of swimming pools while symptoms last.
- Tell your guide or hotel if you cannot continue.
- Ask for a doctor if symptoms last more than a few days.
GOV.UK warns that some hotel doctors have overcharged for treatment and medicines, and that pharmacies outside hotels often sell medicine more cheaply.
Can you swim in the Nile or other fresh water?
No. TravelHealthPro says there is a risk of schistosomiasis in Egypt and advises against wading, swimming or bathing in fresh water. CDC gives the same advice about lakes, ponds and rivers. Chlorinated pools and sea water carry no risk of this infection, TravelHealthPro adds.
That rule matters on a Nile trip because the river is a main route for visitors. Wading is on the advice list too, so keep out of the river and use a chlorinated pool or the sea for swimming.
What about animals and rabies?
Keep your distance from animals, including friendly-looking street dogs. CDC says dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in Egypt and that wildlife can also carry the virus. TravelHealthPro advises avoiding contact with all animals and, after any possible exposure, cleaning the wound and getting urgent medical assessment.
The reason to act fast is practical. CDC says post-exposure vaccines may be available only at larger urban medical facilities, so a bite far from a city can mean a long journey to treatment. That is why TravelHealthPro suggests pre-exposure vaccination for higher-risk activities and for stays over one month. For a normal sightseeing trip, the simplest protection is not touching or feeding animals.
How do you handle heat and sun?
Limit activity in the hottest hours, drink often and wear light clothing. CDC warns that heat-related illness such as heat stroke can be deadly and says salty snacks help replace sweat losses. The NHS lists avoiding the sun from 11am to 3pm, wearing light, loose, light-coloured clothing and limiting alcohol.
WHO gives a drinking guide of about one cup of water per hour and at least 2 to 3 litres a day. It also says fans should be used only when temperatures are below 40 °C, as above that they can heat the body. In Luxor and Aswan, the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service lists July mean daily highs of 41.4 °C in both cities (1981 to 2010, with data from the Egyptian Meteorological Authority), so an early start matters.
| Condition | Signs (NHS) | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Heat exhaustion | Tiredness, dizziness, headache, nausea, heavy sweating, cramps, thirst | Move to a cool place, give water or rehydration drink, cool the skin; recovery within 30 minutes |
| Heatstroke | Very high temperature, hot skin that is not sweating, confusion, seizures | Medical emergency; call for urgent help |
For the sun, WHO advises shade and clothing first, a broad-brimmed hat, wraparound sunglasses and broad-spectrum sunscreen on skin that clothing cannot cover. CDC gives a minimum of SPF 15 and says to seek shade between 10am and 4pm.
Keep readingHow far in advance to book EgyptFor a Nile cruise or tour between October and February, our advice is to book about...Who is at higher risk in the heat?
Older adults, young children and people with long-term conditions. WHO lists adults over 65, young children and people with heart, lung or kidney conditions, diabetes or mental health conditions among those at greater risk. The NHS says to check on children, older adults and people with conditions such as diabetes or heart problems.
If anyone in your group fits these descriptions, talk to your doctor about the heat before you fly. For route choices that take this into account, see our guide to Egypt for seniors and limited mobility.
What about medicines and altitude?
Bring enough medicine for the trip plus extra, and check the rules. CDC advises carrying enough medicine for the trip with extra for delays, and GOV.UK says some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines may be controlled in Egypt. It advises a GP letter naming the condition and the amount, and says that without the right documents you may not be allowed to take them in.
GOV.UK lists the ambulance number as 123. It mentions altitude sickness as a risk in parts of Egypt, and TravelHealthPro gives Mount Sinai at 2,285 metres and Mount Catherine at 2,629 metres as examples of high points. Our packing list has a medicine checklist.
How do you plan a trip around health needs?
Share your needs when you plan, not when you arrive. A planner can set early starts, rest hours and a pace that matches your medical advice. Browse our Egypt tour packages for the length and style, or describe your situation in the trip planning form.
