Vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas or countries and for travellers arriving from countries in the endemic zones. Immunisation is carried out for two different purposes: 1) protection of the traveller. Immunisation against this serious, frequently, fatal disease is recommended for all travellers who may be at risk. 2) to protect countries from importation of yellow fever virus - this is the basis for country immunisation requirements.

Disease can occur worldwide. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas of poor or uncertain hygiene, including all developing countries for more then brief periods.

There is a moderate to high risk of infection. Hepatitis B is the most contagious common blood-borne virus. The National Health & Medical Research Council recommends immunisation of all Australian infants, children, adolescents and young adults, long term travellers to regions of high prevalence, and short term travellers who may be at risk. The World Health Organisation recommends the vaccine be considered for virtually all travellers to highly endemic regions.

There have been reports of rabies cases. Immunisation (pre-exposure) is recommended for travellers spending more than 1 month in countries where rabies is endemic, particularly for those living in rural areas and where post-exposure immunisation maybe difficult to obtain. All those working with animals in areas where rabies is endemic should be immunised. All travellers, whether previously immunised or not, should obtain prompt wound care and immunisation after bites, scratches or licks from mammals which break the skin, or occur on wounds or involve the mouth, or eyes or other moist body surfaces.