# Staying Healthy During Lunar New Year Celebrations: What Ottawa Travellers Need to Know
If you’re planning to ring in the Year of the Fire Horse at Lunar New Year celebrations across Asia, now’s the time to prepare. The Canadian government has issued a Level 1 health advisory – Practise Health Precautions – for travellers heading to popular destinations including China, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, and eleven other countries where festivities begin February 17, 2026.
## Why the Advisory Matters
Lunar New Year ranks among the world’s largest annual gatherings, with hundreds of millions of people travelling to reunite with family and participate in multi-day celebrations. These massive crowds create the perfect conditions for spreading respiratory illnesses, foodborne diseases, and increasing the risk of injury from overcrowding. For Ottawa travellers accustomed to our relatively spacious city, the density of these celebrations can be overwhelming and presents genuine health challenges.
## Understanding Your Risk
Think of this as similar to attending major events like Canada Day on Parliament Hill – but magnified a hundredfold and lasting several days. When people gather in tight quarters, germs spread more easily through coughs, sneezes, and contaminated surfaces. Food vendors working overtime may not maintain their usual hygiene standards. And in surging crowds, accidental injuries become more common.
The advisory applies to travellers visiting Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam during the celebration period.
## Protecting Yourself: Practical Steps
Start by booking a pre-travel consultation at least six weeks before departure – though even last-minute appointments remain valuable. A travel health specialist will review your vaccination status, ensuring routine immunizations are current and recommending destination-specific vaccines. Many adults need booster shots they’ve overlooked for years.
While abroad, practise vigilant hand hygiene – wash with soap for 20 seconds or use alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. Exercise caution with street food and beverages, as foodborne illness tops the list of traveller health complaints. When possible, sidestep extremely congested areas where stampede risks increase.
Pack essential information: emergency contacts, details of existing medical conditions, and coordinates for Canadian consular offices at your destination. Register with the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service before leaving.
If illness strikes during or after your trip, wear a mask, minimize contact with others, and inform healthcare providers about both your symptoms and recent travel history.
## Get Expert Guidance for Your Journey
For Ottawa travellers, preparation makes all the difference between a memorable celebration and a medical emergency abroad. Professional travel health advice tailored to your specific itinerary, health history, and activities ensures you’re protected against preventable diseases.
Planning to visit an affected destination? Our ISTM-certified travel health physicians provide personalized consultations 7 days a week — virtually, from anywhere in Ottawa. Book your virtual consultation at Orleans Travel Clinic Pharmacy.