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Rio Carnival 2025

19 Feb 2025

Rio Carnival 2025 takes place from 28 February to 8 March in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil although carnival events also happen in other cities in Brazil. 

  • Over 1 million visitors are expected to attend Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro
  • See LIESA website for further information on the Samba parade.

If you are planning to attend Carnival this year, you should be aware how to stay safe and protect yourself against common health risks.

Advice for Travellers

Before travelling to Brazil, you should

Attending events with large crowds of people increases the risk of infectious diseases such as flu, COVID-19 and measles and spreading.

Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes leads to very serious complications. Measles can spread easily between crowds of people attending large gatherings, such as festivals. Large measles outbreaks continue to be reported in the UK and abroad. People who are not vaccinated against this infection are at risk.

Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are needed in your lifetime to protect you against all three viruses. Check with your General Practice to find out if you have received two doses of MMR vaccination.

Information on how to access MMR vaccination in:

Other Health Considerations

In addition to the advice above, if you are planning attending Carnival this year, it is important to:

  • take care with respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene to protect yourself and others from illnesses caused by germs (such as bacteria and viruses) that enter our bodies through our eyes, nose or mouth
  • take safe food and water precautions and drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated, especially if the weather is hot 
  • protect yourself against insect bites at all times of the day and night to reduce your risk of exposure to diseases spread to people by biting insects 
  • check the 'news alerts' section for information on disease outbreaks and health risks affecting Brazil
  • practice safer sex, and use condoms to reduce your risk of blood borne viruses and other sexual health risks. Take condoms with you when you travel, even if you aren’t planning to have sex 
  • practice sun safety to reduce your risk of sunstroke and other heat conditions, especially in warm weather, and also to help you to avoid getting skin cancer later in your life 
  • consider carrying a simple first aid kit to self-manage basic health problems 
  • be aware that excessive use of alcohol and/or drugs can increase your likelihood of risk-taking behaviour. Accidents and injuries are not uncommon at festivals. It is also worth being aware that your travel insurance may become invalid if you claim for an incident which occurred whilst you were 'under the influence'.
Mpox

Cases of mpox in travellers continue to occasionally be reported in countries outside of Central and West Africa.  While mpox does not spread very easily between human beings, it can spread between people through close contact with an infected person with mpox from:

  • the touching of blisters or scabs and/or having any skin contact (including during sex)
  • touching clothes, bedding, towels or personal items that have been used by a person who has a mpox rash, blisters or scabs
  • coughs or sneezes from a person with mpox infection

If you are travelling to Carnival this year, you can reduce your risk of exposure to mpox by:

  • being aware of the risk of mpox
  • talking to sexual partners about their sexual health, ask if they have symptoms and always practise safe sex
  • avoiding close physical contact, including sexual contact, with someone who is unwell and may have mpox
  • sharing contact details with new sexual partners to help limit further spread of infection if you become infected
  • maintaining good personal hygiene and wash hands often, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • knowing the symptoms of mpox and checking yourself regularly; be aware it can take up to 3 weeks for symptoms to appear after contact with an infected person
  • seeking health advice and isolate yourself from others whilst waiting to get tested if you have symptoms of mpox

People who are most likely to be exposed to mpox may be offered a vaccine to reduce their risk of infection. Further information about the mpox vaccine and eligibility is available for those living in:

After Travel

After returning home from Carnival, remember to:

  • seek medical advice as soon as possible if you are experiencing any symptoms of infection or illness, and always mention to the health care professional that have recently returned from abroad
  • seek sexual health advice and screening if any unprotected sexual activity has occurred

Additional Resources