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Health & medical on Koh Samui

What to know before you need it: hospitals and pharmacies, how emergency calls work, dengue and heat, jellyfish stings, animal bites, drinking water, vaccinations and travel insurance.

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  1. Dengue fever on Koh Samui: risk and preventionDengue is present across Thailand, including Koh Samui, year-round, with case numbers typically rising in wetter months. The dengue mosquito bites…Read guide
  2. Drinking water and food hygiene on Koh SamuiDo not drink tap water on Koh Samui; bottled water is cheap and everywhere. Factory-made tube ice in restaurants is generally safe. Street food from…Read guide
  3. Emergency medical care: calling 1669 and what to expectFor any medical emergency on Koh Samui, call 1669, the national free ambulance line. State your location clearly first. Expect billing as a…Read guide
  4. Heat illness: recognising and treating heat exhaustion and heatstrokeIn Koh Samui's heat and humidity, heat illness ranges from uncomfortable (cramps, exhaustion) to life-threatening (heatstroke). Learn the…Read guide
  5. Hospitals and medical facilities on Koh Samui: the factual pictureKoh Samui has one government hospital near Nathon on the west coast, plus several private hospitals, including an international-standard private…Read guide
  6. Jellyfish sting first aid: the vinegar protocolFor suspected box jellyfish stings in Thai waters: get out of the water, call 1669, flood the sting with vinegar for at least 30 seconds, never use…Read guide
  7. Medical travel insurance and evacuation coverKoh Samui is an island, and serious medical events may require transfer to Surat Thani or Bangkok, or repatriation home, at costs that can exceed…Read guide
  8. Motorbike injuries and insurance: where tourist claims failEmergency rooms in Thai tourist areas treat foreign motorbike crash injuries daily, and many patients discover their insurance does not cover them…Read guide
  9. Pharmacies on Koh Samui: availability and what to knowPharmacies are everywhere on Koh Samui, in every tourist town and shopping area, and many medicines that need prescriptions elsewhere, including…Read guide
  10. Rabies and animal bites: dogs, cats and monkeysRabies remains present in Thailand's stray dog and cat population, and monkeys at tourist sites can also bite and scratch. The CDC advises washing…Read guide
  11. Vaccinations for Thailand: what is recommendedNo vaccinations are mandatory for Thailand (unless arriving from a yellow-fever country). CDC-style guidance recommends being up to date on routine…Read guide

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