Country
Uruguay
Official language
Spanish
Capital
Montevideo
Monetary unit
peso uruguayo (UYU)
Longitude
-55.765835
Latitude
-32.522779
Foreign Office travel advice
View travel advice
The information on these pages should be used to research health risks and to inform the pre-travel consultation.
Travellers should check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) country-specific travel advice page (where available) which provides information on travel entry requirements in addition to safety and security advice.
Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel. However, even if time is short, an appointment is still worthwhile. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities. For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended.
All travellers should ensure they have adequate travel health insurance.
A list of useful resources including advice on how to reduce the risk of certain health problems is available below
Resources
Details of vaccination recommendations and requirements are provided below.
All travellers
Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK according to their age, medical history and individual risks.
Current routine UK vaccination schedule
The travel health consultation provides an opportunity to check whether routine immunisations are up to date such as MMR/MMRV and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccines. The following link provides information on the current recommended immunisation schedule recommended in the UK.
Country-specific diphtheria recommendations are not provided here. Diphtheria, tetanus and polio are combined in a single vaccine in the UK. Therefore, when a tetanus booster is recommended for travellers, diphtheria vaccine is also given. In the event of a diphtheria outbreak in a country, specific diphtheria vaccination guidance will be provided.
Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation
For individuals with an uncertain or incomplete immunisation history please find guidance for health professionals here Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation.
UKHSA provide an immunisation comparison tool for individuals who may have been vaccinated overseas UK and international immunisation schedules comparison tool.
Selective immunisation programmes
Those who may be at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their work, lifestyle choice, or certain underlying health problems should be up to date with additional recommended vaccines. See vaccine recommendations for these groups at the bottom of the ‘Complete routine immunisation schedule’ document. The individual disease chapters of the ‘Green Book’ Immunisation against infectious disease provides further details.
Certificate requirements
There are no certificate requirements under International Health Regulations.
Most travellers
The vaccines in this section are recommended for most travellers visiting this country. Information on these vaccines can be found by clicking on the blue arrow. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.
Tetanus
Tetanus is caused by a toxin released from *Clostridium tetani* bacteria and occurs worldwide. Tetanus bacteria are present in soil and manure and may be introduced through open wounds such as a puncture wound, burn or scratch.
Prevention
Travellers should thoroughly clean all wounds and seek medical attention for injuries such as animal bites/scratches, burns or wounds contaminated with soil.
Tetanus vaccination
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Travellers should have completed a tetanus vaccination course according to the UK schedule.
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If travelling to a country or area where medical facilities may be limited, a booster dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended if the last dose was more than ten years ago even if five doses of vaccine have been given previously.
Country-specific information on medical facilities may be found in the ‘health’ section of the FCDO foreign travel advice pages.
Tetanus in brief
Some travellers
The vaccines in this section are recommended for some travellers visiting this country. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes which bite mainly during daytime hours. It causes a flu-like illness and can cause severe joint and muscles pains which usually improve in 1–2 weeks but may persist for months or years. It is rarely fatal.
There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.
Information on current outbreaks, where available, will be reported on our outbreak surveillance database.
Prevention
Chikungunya vaccination
Vaccination may be considered for individuals aged 12 years of age and over who are:
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travelling to regions with a current chikungunya outbreak
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long-term or frequent travellers to regions with an increased risk of chikungunya
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exposed to the chikungunya virus through their work, such as laboratory staff working with the virus
Detailed advice about the use and contraindications of the available vaccines will be available in the green book chikungunya chapter in the coming months. For now, please see this chikungunya page for details.
Chikungunya in brief
Dengue
Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes which mainly feed during daytime hours. It causes a flu-like illness, which can occasionally develop into a more serious life-threatening illness. Severe dengue is rare in travellers.
The mosquitoes that spread dengue are more common in towns, cities and surrounding areas.
There is a risk of dengue in this country.
Information on current outbreaks, where available, will be reported on our outbreak surveillance database.
Prevention
Dengue vaccination
Vaccination can be considered for individuals aged 4 years of age and older who have had dengue infection in the past and who are:
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travelling to areas where there is a risk of dengue infection or areas with an ongoing outbreak of dengue, or
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are exposed to dengue virus through their work, such as laboratory staff working with the virus
Exceptionally, vaccination can be considered in those who have not had dengue in the past. In these situations, further expert advice should be considered. Detailed guidance on how to ascertain previous infection is available in the UK Health Security Agency Immunisation against infectious disease the ‘Green book’. The final decision on vaccination rests with the health professional and the traveller after a detailed risk assessment has been performed and the potential risks of vaccination explained.
Dengue in brief
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection transmitted through contaminated food and water or by direct contact with an infectious person. Symptoms are often mild or absent in young children, but the disease can be more serious with advancing age. Recovery can vary from weeks to months. Following hepatitis A infection immunity is lifelong.
Prevention
All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.
Hepatitis A vaccination
Vaccination is recommended for those whose activities put them at increased risk. This includes:
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Those who are staying with or visiting the local population.
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Frequent and/or long-stay travellers to areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor.
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Adventure travellers visiting rural areas and staying in basic accommodation such as backpackers.
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Those with existing medical conditions such as liver disease or haemophilia.
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Men who have sex with men.
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People who inject drugs.
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Those who may be exposed to the virus through their work.
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Those going to areas of hepatitis A outbreaks who have limited access to safe water and medical care.
Hepatitis A in brief
Rabies
Rabies is a viral infection which is usually transmitted following contact with the saliva of an infected animal most often via a bite, scratch or lick to an open wound or mucous membrane (such as on the eye, nose or mouth). Although many different animals can transmit the virus, most cases follow a bite or scratch from an infected dog. In some parts of the world, bats are an important source of infection.
Rabies symptoms can take some time to develop, but when they do, the condition is almost always fatal.
The risk of exposure is increased by certain activities and length of stay (see below). Children are at increased risk as they are less likely to avoid contact with animals and to report a bite, scratch or lick.
Rabies in Uruguay
Rabies is considered a risk and has been reported in domestic animals in this country. Bats may also carry rabies-like viruses.
Prevention
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Travellers should avoid contact with all animals. Rabies is preventable with prompt post-exposure treatment.
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Following a possible exposure, wounds should be thoroughly cleansed and an urgent local medical assessment sought, even if the wound appears trivial.
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Post-exposure treatment and advice should be in accordance with national guidelines.
Rabies vaccination
A full course of pre-exposure vaccines simplifies and shortens the course of post-exposure treatment and removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin which is in short supply world-wide.
Pre-exposure vaccinations are recommended for travellers whose activities put them at increased risk including:
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those at risk due to their work (e.g. laboratory staff working with the virus, those working with animals or health workers who may be caring for infected patients).
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those travelling to areas where access to post-exposure treatment and medical care is limited.
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those planning higher risk activities such as running or cycling.
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long-stay travellers (more than one month).
Rabies in brief
Typhoid
Typhoid is a bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated food and water. Previous typhoid illness may only partially protect against re-infection.
Travellers who will have access to safe food and water are likely to be at low risk. Those at increased risk include travellers visiting friends and relatives, frequent or long-stay travellers to areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor, and laboratory personnel who may handle the bacteria for their work.
Typhoid in Uruguay
Typhoid fever is known or presumed to occur in this country.
Prevention
All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.
Typhoid vaccination
Typhoid in brief
There are some risks that are relevant to all travellers regardless of destination. These may for example include road traffic and other accidents, diseases transmitted by insects or ticks, diseases transmitted by contaminated food and water, or health issues related to the heat or cold.
Some additional risks (which may be present in all or part of this country) are mentioned below and are presented alphabetically.
Biting insects or ticks
Insect or tick bites can cause irritation and infections of the skin at the site of a bite. They can also spread certain diseases.
Diseases in South America
There is a risk of insect or tick-borne diseases in some areas of South America. This includes diseases such as American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease), leishmaniasis and West Nile virus.
Prevention
Further information about specific insect or tick-borne diseases for this country can be found, if appropriate on this page, in other sections of the country information pages and the insect and tick bite avoidance factsheet.
Influenza
Seasonal influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract and spreads easily from person to person via respiratory droplets when coughing and sneezing. Symptoms appear rapidly and include fever, muscle aches, headache, malaise (feeling unwell), cough, sore throat and a runny nose. In healthy individuals, symptoms improve without treatment within two to seven days. Severe illness is more common in those aged 65 years or over, those under 2 years of age, or those who have underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for complications of influenza.
Seasonal influenza in Uruguay
Seasonal influenza occurs throughout the world. In the northern hemisphere (including the UK), most influenza occurs from as early as October through to March. In the southern hemisphere, influenza mostly occurs between April and September. In the tropics, influenza can occur throughout the year.
Prevention
All travellers should:
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Avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals
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Avoid crowded conditions where possible
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Wash their hands frequently
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Practise ‘cough hygiene’: sneezing or coughing into a tissue and promptly discarding it safely, and washing their hands
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Avoid travel if unwell with influenza-like symptoms
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A vaccine is available in certain circumstances (see below)*
*In the UK, seasonal influenza vaccine is offered routinely each year to those at higher risk of developing of severe disease following influenza infection, and certain additional groups such as healthcare workers and children as part of the UK national schedule (see information on vaccination). For those who do not fall into these groups, vaccination may be available privately.
If individuals at higher risk of severe disease following influenza infection are travelling to a country when influenza is likely to be circulating they should ensure they received a flu vaccination in the previous 12 months.
The vaccine used in the UK protects against the strains predicted to occur during the winter months of the northern hemisphere. It is not possible to obtain vaccine for the southern hemisphere in the UK, but the vaccine used during the UK influenza season should still provide important protection against strains likely to occur during the southern hemisphere influenza season, and in the tropics.
Avian influenza
Avian influenza viruses can rarely infect and cause disease in humans. Such cases are usually associated with close exposure to infected bird or animal populations. Where appropriate, information on these will be available in the outbreaks and news sections of the relevant country pages. Seasonal influenza vaccines will not provide protection against avian influenza.
Avian influenza in brief
Outdoor air quality
Poor air quality is a significant public health problem in many parts of the world. Exposure to high levels of air pollution over short time periods (e.g. minutes/hours/days) and longer time periods (e.g. years) is linked to many different acute and chronic health problems. These effects are mainly on the respiratory (lungs and airways) and cardiovascular (heart function and blood circulation) systems.
Current information on world air quality is available from the world air quality index project.
Prevention
Travellers with health problems that might make them more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution who are travelling to areas of high pollution should:
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discuss their travel plans with their doctor, and carry adequate supplies of their regular medication.
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take sensible precautions to minimise their exposure to high levels of air pollution.
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check local air quality data and amend their activities accordingly.
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take notice of any health advisories published by the local Ministry of Health and Department for Environment, and follow the guidance provided.
It is unclear if face masks are beneficial at reducing exposure and may make breathing more difficult for those with pre-existing lung conditions. Those who choose to use one should make sure that the mask fits well and know how to wear it properly.
Outdoor air quality in brief
Sexually transmitted infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a group of viral, bacterial and parasitic infections spread during sexual intercourse or by intimate contact. Certain STIs can be more difficult to treat due to higher levels of antibiotic resistance and some STIs that are rare in the UK may be more common in other world regions.
Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of getting an STI wherever they are in the world.
Risk is higher for travellers who:
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have sex without a condom
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have sex with new or casual partners
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engage in sex tourism
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have sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Symptoms of STIs vary depending on the type of infection; some may only cause mild or unnoticeable symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can include a rash, discharge, itching, blisters, sores or warts in genital and/or anal areas, pain when peeing and flu like symptoms.
If left untreated, STIs can cause serious long term health issues such as fertility problems, pelvic inflammatory disease and pregnancy complications.
Prevention
Using condoms consistently and correctly with new or casual partners is the most effective way to reduce risk of STIs.
Travellers can also reduce their risk of STIs by:
Travellers should seek medical advice and give their travel history if they think they may have an STI, even if they have no symptoms. They should also have a test for STIs if they have had sex without condoms with a new or casual partner while abroad.
In the UK STI testing is free and confidential.
Source and disclaimer
This travel health information is based on data supplied by NaTHNaC (the National Travel Health Network and Centre). All intellectual property rights in the data are owned by NaTHNaC. It must not be copied, reproduced, distributed, amended or offered for sale without NaTHNaC’s prior written consent.
Patient.info ensures that this information is reviewed and updated on at least a weekly basis. However, NaTHNaC’s data is accurate only as at the date it was prepared, and Patient.info is solely responsible for maintaining its accuracy and completeness after that date. NaTHNaC accepts no liability for the use of this data by Patient.info or its users.
