Vaccinations
| Special Precautions | |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria | Yes |
| Hepatitis A | Yes |
| Malaria | Yes |
| Rabies | Sometimes |
| Tetanus | Yes |
| Typhoid | Yes |
| Yellow Fever | Yes* |
|
Inoculation regulations can change at short notice. Please take medical advice in the case of doubt. Where 'Sometimes' appears in the table above, precautions may be
required, depending on the season and region visited.
|
* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age.
Food and Drink
All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water
used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been
boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be
boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products
which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat
well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and
fruit peeled.
Other Risks
Hepatitis E is present and hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Diarrhoeal illnesses are common. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis)
is present; avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Meningococcal meningitis is
particularly prevalent during the dry season in December, especially in
the north of the country. Vaccination is strongly
recommended. There is also a high incidence of HIV/AIDS; sensible
precautions should be taken. Rabies is present. For those
at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you
are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
Health Care
Full health insurance is essential, and should include air evacuation to Europe in case of serious accident or illness. Medical facilities are severely limited outside the major centres and visitors should travel with their own supply of remedies for simple ailments such as stomach upsets: pharmaceutical supplies are usually very difficult to obtain.