Melbourne, like most parts of Australia, presents few health risks
for foreign visitors. Tap water is good, restaurants and eating places
are required by law to maintain a high standard of Accommodation preparation,
and the city is generally clean. Smog is less of a problem than with
cities such as London, Hong Kong and Bangkok, but is still quite high.
If you are an asthmatic, be aware that Melbourne does have "smog
days" and issues smog alerts for people with breathing difficulties.
These days are most common in the still Autumn months (February through
till May). Exposure to the sun in Melbourne can be a problem for those
who are fair-skinned - this is made worse by the fact that Melbourne
is more seriously affected by ozone depletion than the other capital
cities. Medical costs in Australia are not exorbitant like in the
United States and Europe, but travel insurance is still highly recommended.
