Brazil

Recommended Vaccinations For Brazil

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine

BCG vaccine is recommended for those at increased risk from coming in close contact with infected persons or for unvaccinated, children under 16 years of age, who are going to live in the country for more than 3 months.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

The yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travelers over 9 months of age going to the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Distrito Federal (including the capital city of Brasília), Espiritu Santo, Goiás, Maranhaõ, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná (including Iguazu Falls), Piaui, Rio de Janeiro (and city), Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo (and city), and Tocantins, and designated areas of Bahia. Vaccination is not recommended for travelers whose itineraries are limited to areas not listed above, including the cities of Fortaleza, and Recife.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through the consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities, rural areas, or staying with friends and family.

Recommended Medications For Brazil

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Recommended medications are atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. Anti-malaria drug resistance for chloroquine is present.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Brazil

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Brazil.

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Brazil.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever outbreaks are common in almost every state in Brazil, and the risk to travellers is significant.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

For Some Travellers

Chagas Disease

American trypanosomiasis is also known as “Chagas disease” and occurs in Brazil.

Measles

There is a risk of acquiring Measles in this country.

West Nile Fever

There is a risk of acquiring West Nile virus in this country.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis occurs in Brazil, especially in the northern and eastern regions in rural areas during heavy rains and flooding.

Zika Fever

There is transmission of the Zika virus in this country.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in Brazil. Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Brazil, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas and staying with friends or relatives.

Schistosomiasis

The parasite that causes schistosomiasis is found in Brazil. It is found in contaminated freshwater and not in well-chlorinated swimming pools, saltwater, oceans or seas.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in Brazil. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Yellow Fever

**There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Distrito Federal (including the capital city, Brasília), Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná , Piauí, Rio de Janeiro (including the city of Rio de Janeiro and all coastal islands), Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo (including the city of São Paulo and all coastal islands), Tocantins, and designated areas of Bahia. There is also a risk of transmission for travelers going to Iguaçu Falls.**

Malaria

There is a risk of transmission in all areas in the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Rondônia, and Roraima. Transmission may occur in the small towns and rural areas of the states of Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Pará, as well as the rural and forested areas in the states of Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, São Paolo, and Tocantins. There is no malaria transmission in the cities of Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, or São Paolo or at Iguaçu Falls.

Safety & Security in Brazil

Personal Safety

Brazil has experienced declining homicide rates since 2017, with the rate dropping from 31.16 per 100,000 to 19.28 per 100,000 in 2023. However, crime remains a significant concern, particularly in major cities. Petty crime like pickpocketing and bag snatching targets tourists in crowded areas, markets, beaches, and public transport hubs. Violent crimes including armed robbery, carjacking, and assault occur in urban areas both day and night. Express kidnappings, where victims are held briefly while forced to withdraw money from ATMs, have been reported. A dating and drugging scam is prevalent, particularly during Carnival, where criminals target foreigners through dating apps or at bars before drugging and robbing them. You should avoid displaying valuables, phones, or jewelry. Gang activity and organized crime are widespread and tied to drug trafficking. Two major criminal organizations, Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho, control territory across favelas and increasingly in northern and northeastern regions. Street robberies often involve weapons, and drive-by snatching by thieves on motorcycles occurs regularly in São Paulo and Porto Alegre. Mass robberies called arrastões involve groups of criminals swarming public places to snatch valuables. The Brazilian government has invested in enhanced security measures in popular tourist areas, though many Brazilians still feel unsafe, with surveys showing two-thirds are afraid to walk alone at night.

Extreme Violence

Favelas, informal housing developments found in all major Brazilian cities, are controlled by heavily armed drug gangs or militia groups. Violence in these areas involves territorial conflicts between rival criminal organizations, with frequent shootouts that can affect innocent bystanders. Police operations in favelas are often deadly, with Brazilian police killing an average of 17 people per day in 2024, totaling 6,296 deaths, eight times the rate in the United States. In Rio de Janeiro in 2019, over 1,800 people died in police confrontations, with 80% of victims being young Black men. Three of the four deadliest police operations in Brazilian history occurred between 2021 and 2022, each killing over 70 people. Militia groups, often composed of former and current police officers, control numerous favelas and extort residents for protection money while conducting extrajudicial killings. Violence between militias and gangs has intensified, responsible for 28% of reported fatalities in Rio in 2020-2021. Gang conflicts in Bahia led to a 39% increase in homicides in municipalities where clashes occurred. The Red Command and First Capital Command, Brazil’s two main criminal factions, ended a 20-year truce in 2016, causing violence to surge. Armed groups conduct vigilante justice, holding tribunals and executing accused wrongdoers. Prison violence is rampant, with riots common and gang leaders controlling criminal enterprises from inside facilities.

Political Unrest

On January 8, 2023, supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed Brazil’s government buildings in Brasilia, attacking the National Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace. Over 2,000 people were detained following the attack, which occurred one week after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office. The insurrection aimed to overthrow the democratically elected government, with rioters demanding military intervention. The attacks followed weeks of roadblocks and protests after Bolsonaro’s 2022 election defeat, with supporters blocking highways in 25 states. Protests, demonstrations, and strikes occur regularly across Brazilian cities in response to political and economic issues. Even peaceful events can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Police use rubber bullets and tear gas extensively to disperse protesters. In November 2024, two explosions occurred at the Praça dos Três Poderes in central Brasilia. Protests related to the January 8 events continue, with Bolsonaro supporters rallying for amnesty in 2025, while counter-protests oppose clemency for coup plotters. Political violence has targeted officials, with the 2018 murder of Rio councilwoman Marielle Franco linked to militia groups. You should leave immediately if you encounter a protest or feel uncomfortable in large gatherings. Security personnel were accused of either supporting the January 2023 riots or displaying inaction, raising concerns about police loyalties.

Areas To Avoid

All favelas should be avoided at any time, including those offering guided tours. Government travel advisories place Level 4 restrictions on informal housing developments, with warnings that neither tour companies nor police can guarantee safety. Tourists have been shot after accidentally entering favelas. The security situation in favelas is unpredictable, with gang fighting and police clashes sometimes moving beyond their confines. International borders within 160 km of boundaries with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela should be avoided due to security risks, excluding Foz do Iguaçu National Park and Pantanal National Park. Armed groups including drug traffickers travel rivers in Amazonas state where police presence is low. In Brasilia, avoid the central bus station, two adjacent shopping centers, and the satellite cities of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, São Sebastião, and Paranoa, particularly between 6pm and 6am. In Rio de Janeiro, exercise caution in Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, and the Lapa neighborhood. Be careful on hikes to Christ the Redeemer statue where robberies have been reported. In São Paulo, crime hotspots include the downtown area, historic center neighborhoods of Luz, Santa Efigênia, Consolação, and Sé, as well as poorer outer neighborhoods like Capão Redondo, Vila Clementino, and Campo Limpo. Porto Alegre and Salvador have very high crime rates with extensive gang violence. Recife beaches have shark attack dangers.