April 24, 2023, 11:41 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Finally, vacation! But then the unexpected happens: your skin itches, your stomach rebels, your fever rises. You get sick–hopefully for just a day, but in the worst case, your entire vacation is ruined, and you have to go to a hospital abroad. Besides harmless stomach upsets, travelers can also be hit hard. Salmonella poisoning or malaria are not uncommon. A study by Forbes Advisor has now revealed which travel destinations worldwide have the highest risk of illness.

About 2.4 million posts in popular travel forums were examined for keywords such as “salmonella,” “gastroenteritis,” “E. coli,” and “food poisoning,” and the results were compared with the recommended vaccinations or boosters and the malaria risk for the destination according to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service. Since one of the most common causes of vacation illnesses is contaminated water, the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding local tap water was also included. The result: the “Forbes Advisor Travel Bug Index,” which lists travel destinations with the highest risk of illness on a scale from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the more likely tourists are to get sick. Many destinations with high scores are also very popular with German vacationers.

Also interesting: World map shows where you should not drink tap water

The 5 travel destinations worldwide with the highest risk of illness

1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: 90.4

Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic takes the infamous first place with a score of more than 90. According to the analysis, almost 10 percent of all travelers complain about vacation-related illnesses. The German Foreign Office warns in its travel advisories for the Dominican Republic about various mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, chikungunya fever, dengue fever, and the Zika virus. Special tablets are recommended for malaria prevention. Tap water should not be consumed under any circumstances. The Foreign Office advises: “Drink only water from safe sources, never tap water.” This can help avoid some illnesses, such as cholera.

Also interesting: Mysterious tourist deaths are increasing in the Dominican Republic

2. Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt: 83.5

Also popular with vacationers is the second place in the index: Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh, known for its various diving resorts and all-inclusive hotels. While there is no malaria risk here, it is much more likely to contract a gastrointestinal illness. According to the index, travelers report food poisoning in almost 11 percent of cases.

The German Foreign Office also warns about E. coli infections when traveling to Egypt. “As a complication of this disease, a hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) with the risk of kidney failure can occur. Sources of infection in Egypt are mainly raw fruits and vegetables and undercooked beef and lamb,” according to the Foreign Office. Therefore, food should only be eaten fully cooked, and tap water should be avoided at all costs.

Also interesting: Beware of E. coli bacteria in Egypt!

3. Sal, Cape Verde: 70.6

The island of Sal is one of the most popular islands of Cape Verde. Not surprisingly, it offers crystal-clear water and 350 sunny days a year! But not all visitors can enjoy them. More than 11 percent of travelers, according to the index, complain about illnesses. The German Foreign Office informs travelers before a vacation in Cape Verde that since August 2022, there have been increased cases of diarrhea due to infections with the pathogen Shigella sonnei. Therefore, tap water should be avoided. It is also recommended to take malaria tablets. You can also contract dengue fever and the Zika virus.

4. Playa del Carmen, Mexico: 63.8

Mexico takes both the fourth and fifth places in the illness index. Playa del Carmen fares slightly worse, as vacationers here write about illnesses in more posts. There is a risk throughout the country of several mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, chikungunya fever, dengue fever, leishmaniasis, and the Zika virus. Five vaccinations are recommended for Mexico, and travelers should not drink tap water anywhere in the country.

5. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: 63.3

As in Playa del Carmen, vacationers in Cabo San Lucas should not drink tap water under any circumstances. In addition to diarrheal diseases, this can also prevent an infection with leptospirosis: The bacterial infection is occasionally transmitted through water contaminated with rodent excretions and can, in rare cases, lead to more severe symptoms affecting the liver and kidneys.

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Other destinations with a higher risk of illness according to the index

• Bali, Indonesia
• Hurghada, Egypt
• Tulum, Mexico
• Boa Vista, Cape Verde
• Cancun, Mexico
• Cairo, Egypt
• Marrakech, Morocco
• Hanoi, Vietnam
• Orlando, USA
• Havana, Cuba
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Benidorm, Spain
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Marmaris, Turkey