The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued updated advice for travellers heading to Vietnam after a dengue fever outbreak was confirmed in the south of the country.
The haemorrhagic disease has struck this month in the provincial health departments of Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
The country is a popular destination for backpackers and gap year travellers and while the FCO is not warning against going there, it has emphasised the importance of vaccinations and possessing a comprehensive travel insurance plan.
The area hit hardest by the disease is the Soc Trang province, which has witnessed 1,900 cases in the past six months alone.
In addition, an outbreak of anthrax has been reported in the Meo Vac district of Ha Giang province, with the FCO urging visitors to the region to "avoid contact with livestock and ensure meat has been properly cooked".
The FCO also advises travellers to take extra care with hygiene and to avoid drinking water that is not bottled and sealed.
Vietnam is regularly forced to contend with instances of malaria, Japanese encephalitis, cholera and avian influenza (more commonly known as bird flu).
