Botswana

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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.  

Hepatitis B

Rabies

Tuberculosis

Cholera

Yellow Fever *

* The Yellow Fever vaccination may be required for travel to this country. Please click on the disease name above for more information.

Malaria risk

Malaria Risk is exists throughout the year but especially from November to June in the northern parts of the country. Malaria tablets may be required. This can be discussed in further detail with one of our travel health consultants.

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.

• Schistomiasis (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.

• Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping sickness) is spread through the tsetse fly found south of the Sahara and north of the Zambesi river.  A simple boil like reaction may occur at the site of the bite, followed by generalised rash, fever and progressive neurological symptoms.  Travellers to these areas should be aware of the risk and avoid contact with infected flies where possible.

• Tick Bites typhus is mainly prevalent in southern Africa and is spread by tick bites.  Symptoms may include a fever & generalised rash.