Kenya

Healthy Travelling

Immunisation against typhoid is highly recommended.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age. Find out from your travel agent if your country is classified as an endemic zone. For such visitors the vaccine is mandatory. Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported.

A cholera vaccination certificate is not mandatory for entry to Kenya. However, cholera is a serious risk in Kenya and precautions should be taken. Talk to your doctor before travelling to Kenya.

Malaria risk exists all over the country. It is advisable to take anti-malaria tabs before travelling to Kenya and especially the coast or the western part of Kenya. Nairob is relatively safer when it comes to malaria attacks.

Water: Bottled water is available and the only guaranteed safe drinking water. Make sure you buy your bottled water from reputable outlets as some of the bottled water is not upto standard. Avoid drinking water straight from the taps. Alternatively boil the water first and cool it for drinking.

Travelers' Diarrhea - Food and waterborne diseases are the number one cause of illness in travelers. Travelers' Diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout the region and can contaminate food or water. Make sure your food and drinking water are safe.

Make sure you swim in swimming pools whose water has been treated. This will protect you from many water borne diseases like Bilharzia.

Insect bites - many diseases carried by insects can be prevented by protecting yourself against insect bites. For example carry insect repellants to apply on your body before going out and especially at night.

Take a kit of sterilised syringe needles for any possible injections needed, as well as drip needles for emergencies.

If you are on medication, carry all the medicine you require as you may have a problem getting some of the medicines here. Some Chemists also stock generics which may not be as good as the original medicine.

You could also carry a pack of painkillers, first aid kit and creams for insect bites etc.

There are good medical facilities in Nairobi and Mombasa. The Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) safety communication centre (24 hour) help tourists in difficulty (Tel: (2) 604 767).