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* The Yellow Fever vaccination certificate may be required for travel to this country. Please click on the disease name above for more information.
Other vaccine preventable risks
The following vaccinations may be considered depending on your itinerary and planned activities. These can be discussed in more detail with one of our travel health consultants.
Meningitis ACWY
Cholera
Hepatitis B
Rabies
Tuberculosis
Malaria risk
Malaria risk is substantial all year round, throughout the entire country. Malaria tablets are strongly advised. This can be discussed in further detail with one of our travel health advisors.
Non-vaccine preventable risks
- Travellers' diarrhoea is usually caused by eating contaminated food or drinking unsafe water. Symptoms may be severe with frequent watery stools, thirst, dry mouth and tongue, headache and weakness. Water should always be treated when there is doubt about its cleanliness. Food that may be contaminated must be thoroughly cooked and hands washed prior to eating.
- HIV infection is spread through sexual intercourse or infected blood or blood products (e.g. through blood transfusions or the use of blood contaminated instruments such as intravenous needles).
- Leptospirosis is spread through the faeces of infected rodents especially rats. It is unusual for travellers to be affected unless living in poor sanitary conditions.
- Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) is spread through the fresh water snail. The larvae produced by the snails can swim and seek out human skin and find their way into the bladder and intestine. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, blood in urine and stools. Paddling or swimming in suspect fresh water lakes or slow running rivers should be avoided.
- Chikungunya fever is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, severe joint pain &/or a generalised rash. Precautions must be taken to prevent mosquito bites, as there is no vaccine available against Chikungunya fever.
- Marburg fever is a haemorrhagic fever of uncertain source but an animal host is suspected. Mortality is high and there may be a risk to travellers living in unhygienic conditions or nursing infected patients. It presents as a febrile illness which may result in multi-system disease.
- Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is spread through the bite of a small black fly which breeds in fast flowing water. It can cause a skin rash with intense itching which usually occurring months or years later post exposure. Occasionally the eye can be affected. Camping near rivers should be avoided and precautions taken against bites.
- Hepatitis E is contracted through contaminated food and especially water. It is usually found in countries where santitation is poor. Water should always be treated when there is doubt about its cleanliness. Food that may be contaminated must be thoroughly cooked and hands washed prior to eating.
- Dengue Fever, which is often referred to as break-bone fever, is spread through the bite of the mosquito. It causes a feverish illness with headache and muscle pains like a bad, prolonged, attack of influenza. A rash can also develop. It is becoming more common in many parts of the world. Mosquito bites should be avoided whenever possible.
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Filariasis (Bancrofti) is spread through the bite of the mosquito. It can cause fever and skin inflammation. Later swelling of the legs, arms or genitalia may develop but usually only after repeated infections. It is not usually a problem for the short-term traveller staying in good accommodation. Mosquito bites should be avoided whenever possible.