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Africa
If youre traveling to Africa, youre sure to encounter its breathtaking scenery, intriguing desert oases, diverse cultures, and awesome wildlife. Its a continent of many countries, climates, and, unfortunately, manifold challenges to ones health. With ecosystems ranging from parched desert to tropical rainforest, numerous factors contribute to risks visitors might face. Moreover, AIDS, the Ebola virus, and malaria are currently serious problems--not to mention frequent famine and a widespread lack of finance to support nations healthcare infrastructure.
Enjoying your trip to its fullest always involves some amount of preparation and knowledge, so to make your planning easier weve put together some basic information outlining the general risks you might face in Africa. Consult the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the most up-to-date information on current health risks, and ask your physician about the best courses of vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis for the area youre visiting.
Food and Water:
Dysentery and diarrhea diseases are common in Africa. Its always best to just assume that water is contaminated. Even if locals claim that tap water is safe to drink, it may carry bacteria that will upset your stomach. Bottled water is readily available in most cities, but if youre way out in the bush or other remote places, youll have to rely on your sterilization smarts to get your water potable. All water used for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice should be boiled or treated. See our food and water tip for further details.
In most countries, vegetables should be cooked and fruits should be peeled before eating. Make sure that meat and seafood are thoroughly cooked. While countries in southern Africa (i.e., South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana) generally have a good record of food not causing stomach upsets, its always better to be safer than sorry.
Milk is not pasteurized in most countries, and therefore dairy products should be avoided. An alternative: boiling or otherwise sterilizing milk, or making powdered milk with purified water. Countries that do pasteurize and process their milk are Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, the Seychelles, South Africa, and Swaziland, to name a few.
The Elements:
If youre just first now learning that the sun is strong in Africa, then youve got a problem. A large portion of the continent is consumed by desert, the equator runs through it, and it generally enjoys pretty toasty temperatures. No matter where youre visiting, cover up with lots of sunscreen (at least 15 SPF--ideally 30 SPF), wear pants and long sleeves when you can, and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. You wont just get an average sunburn here--the sun is really strong. Be smart and youll enjoy your trip way more.
Health Risks:
Insect-borne diseases--particularly malaria--are of primary concern continent-wide. Consult your physician several months before your trip to establish the best course of malaria prevention for you. Countries containing malaria risk are: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Egypt (except in Cairo, Alexandria, and other main tourist areas), Ethiopia (except in Addis Ababa), Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Morocco (only in northern coastal reaches), Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, and Zimbabwe. Visitors to the Seychelles and Tunisia need not worry. To see which particular areas of the above countries are at risk, consult WHOs malaria risk map.
Yellow fever is a problem in certain parts of Africa as well. Large outbreaks occur periodically in the unvaccinated population. To check which areas are at risk, consult WHOs map of endemic zones.
Natural foci of plague have been reported in parts of central and southern Africa. Filariasis, river blindness, sleeping sickness, and tick-bite fever occur in localized foci and are confined to rural areas; these are rare diseases, and are listed just so that you take note. Poliomyelitis, a food- or water-borne disease, is endemic to many countries. Trachoma is widespread in central Africa. Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis may occur throughout tropical Africa, particularly in the savanna areas during the dry season.
Schistosomiasis (or bilharzia), a strain of water-borne bacteria, is prevalent in many fresh water areas; avoid swimming or paddling in these areas. Rabies is present in many parts of the continent. Snakes are often a hazard in certain areas; less frequently, scorpions may be encountered in northern Africa.
Hepatitis B and HIV are rampant in many nations--exercise extreme caution and safety in situations that may lend themselves to contracting these diseases.
Immunization Suggestions and Requirements:
The following information was culled from reputable sources, such as CDC and WHO and reflects countries currently featured on Travelocity.com.
Benin
- Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, polio, cholera
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old
Botswana
- Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, polio
Burkina Faso
- Tetanus, meningococcal meningitis, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, polio, cholera
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old
- Proof of meningitis shot is also useful, especially when theres an epidemic
Egypt
- Hepatitis A, diphtheria, cholera, typhoid, polio
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old coming from infected areas
Ethiopia
- Cholera, typhoid, polio, hepatitis A and B
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year of age coming from infected areas
- For visitors from non-endemic areas, yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travel outside Ethiopias urban areas, even if an outbreak has not been reported
Ghana
- Cholera, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, typhoid, polio
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all visitors
Kenya
- Cholera, typhoid, polio, hepatitis A and B
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old coming from infected areas
Mali
- Typhoid, polio, cholera, hepatitis A and B
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old
Morocco
- Polio, hepatitis A, typhoid
Namibia
- Typhoid, polio, hepatitis A and B
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers coming from infected areas
Seychelles
- Typhoid, polio
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old coming from infected areas or who have passed through partly or wholly endemic areas within the previous six days
South Africa
- Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, polio
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old coming from infected areas
Sudan
- Cholera, polio, typhoid, hepatitis A and B
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old coming from infected areas--this may be required from travelers leaving Sudan as well
- Travelers from non-endemic zones should note that yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended if traveling outside Sudans urban areas, even if an outbreak has not been reported
Swaziland
- Cholera, typhoid, polio, hepatitis A and B
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers coming from infected areas
Tanzania
- Hepatitis A and B, cholera, typhoid, polio
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old coming from infected areas
- Cholera vaccination certificate is required from all travelers coming from endemic areas
Togo
- Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, cholera, polio
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old
Tunisia
- Typhoid, polio, hepatitis A
- Sporadic cases of cholera have been reported--seek up-to-date advice about the need for vaccination
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old coming from infected areas
Zimbabwe
- Cholera, typhoid, polio, hepatitis A and B
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers coming from infected areas
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