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Hey all,

So I have a question, I'm supposed to be spending a week in Siem Reap, and a week in PP at the start of March, my first visit to Cambodia.

Given the current situation in SEA with the coronavirus, would you still recommend traveling to Cambodia? I know I know some people will say "its only the flu" , however I have asthma, so getting the flu can also be quite serious for me.

Getting sick isn't the part that overly concerns me ( although obviously getting sick would of ruin traveling a bit ) its more if I did get sick ( which considering I will be traveling Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand, raises my chances compared to just staying in one place ), what is the standard of healthcare like in Cambodia? Are doctors competent? Are public hospitals reasonable? Are private hospitals good?

Any advice/info would be appreciated ( I couldn't find any similar posts about this )

Thanks

First time + asthma + dusty land + Chinese invasion + shit local healthcare + coronavirus = Cambodian holidays better be postponed...

Just my 2 cents.

....what is the standard of healthcare like in Cambodia? Are doctors competent? Are public hospitals reasonable? Are private hospitals good?

None of it is all that great. If you thought the public health care system in Ireland was bad you are in for a big surprise. The services in rural clinics or even many urban hospitals can be very rudimentary. As in a bare room with a cot and you better have someone looking after you. I've been in loads of them. Some hospitals have great equipment and well-trained staff but don't get enough funding to bother doing a competent job. A lot of resources are siphoned off and resold. It has improved over the years to some extent, there are private establishments like Central Hospital that are useful for less important ailments, and on the far end of the scale there is Royal Phnom Penh. Last time I was there a friend was in an ICU and it was around $1500 a day before any extras. He nearly died there too because of what seemed like total incompetence but that's pure conjecture on my part as I'm not a doctor. He was medevaced to Bumrungrad and lasted a few more years.

my two cents, totally uninformed because i cannot trust the official line.

The risk is probably quite low of catching the virus in cambodia.
Explore the whole country still, There are still lots of open air attractions, but just be sensible about being up-close and in crowds. Wash you hands regularly and carry some wipes for the hotel room (same as anywhere in the world this week).
-the common and fairly cheap share taxis are probably a better option than buses for in-country travel, eg.
pay a bit more and get one for yourself if you can.

The mortality rate is quite low if you do contract the virus.
But if you do, the health care and probable responses to the virus here generally, are "less than ideal".
(i'm trying to be polite here, see Ghosts and JB's comments above for a more brutally-honest appraisal)

My big concern would be sitting in a flying incubator anywhere in the world this week. And airports, the world's hub for travelling bugs.
I am very glad that i don't need to hop on a plane right now.

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:29 am First time + asthma + dusty land + Chinese invasion + shit local healthcare + coronavirus = Cambodian holidays better be postponed...

Just my 2 cents.

First time + Asthma + shitty air quality - chinese ex-flux + shit local healthcare + coronavirus = make sure you have medevac to BKK travel insurance. 2% death rate upon contracting CV are not exactly poor so I'd encourage the OP to visit and take appropriate precautions. Carry your inhaler, wear a suitable mask to deal with shitty air quality. You've dealt with it all your life and am sure you know the best precautions to maintain your health.

A92ND wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:16 am Hey all,

So I have a question, I'm supposed to be spending a week in Siem Reap, and a week in PP at the start of March, my first visit to Cambodia.

Given the current situation in SEA with the coronavirus, would you still recommend traveling to Cambodia? I know I know some people will say "its only the flu" , however I have asthma, so getting the flu can also be quite serious for me.

Getting sick isn't the part that overly concerns me ( although obviously getting sick would of ruin traveling a bit ) its more if I did get sick ( which considering I will be traveling Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand, raises my chances compared to just staying in one place ), what is the standard of healthcare like in Cambodia? Are doctors competent? Are public hospitals reasonable? Are private hospitals good?

Any advice/info would be appreciated ( I couldn't find any similar posts about this )

Thanks

Dont expect much healthcare wise in Philipines or vietnam either, not much better than Cambodia outside major cities. i wouldn't believe the figures about how much it has spread in SE asia either. Inconceivable there are so few case in Cambodia given the huge number of chinese.There were 3 from Wuhan in 1 hotel i stayed at in PP just after they were banned. Your persoanl risk is going to be determined by your age and the state of your immune system. Athsam will have a bearing on that but it might ormight not be significant depending on other factors. Its only the flu. You have a 98% chance of survival.

Best place in the world <3

If you have severe asthma it’s better to come in the rainy season. Now it’s the dry (and very dusty) season.

Perfect time to come and enjoy Siem Reap.
have a wonderful time..
Don't listen to these clods.

OP- suggest you check the PDS of your travel insurance.

Mine has this general exclusion:

claims caused by, or claims arising from, an epidemic,
pandemic or outbreak of a contagious disease or any
derivative or mutation of such viruses, or the threat or
perceived threat of any of these. Refer to who.int and
smartraveller.gov.au for further information on epidemics
and pandemics.