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Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | Yes | 1 | | Cholera | Yes | 2 | | Typhoid and Polio | 3 | N/A | | Malaria | 4 | N/A |
Note: There is a constant danger of disease, owing to the lack of sanitation. The risk of epidemics is high.
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over one year of age.
2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Rwanda. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Customs officials may demand to see some proof of immunisation. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for further information.
3: Typhoid is a risk, especially in rural areas.
4: Malaria risk exists all year throughout the country. The predominant, malignant falciparum strain is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.
Food & drink: Visitors are advised to bring their own supplies of food, bottled water and vitamins. Clean water is scarce, and 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, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools that are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Typhus fever, trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), onchocerciasis (river blindness), hepatitis A and E are widespread; hepatitis B is highly endemic. Menigococcal meningitis and TB occur.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.
Health care: Medical facilities are severely limited and extremely overburdened. Almost all medical facilities in Kigali were destroyed during the civil war, but the situation is now improving and most hospitals function to an acceptable level. However, medical insurance, including cover for emergency repatriation, is essential. Visitors are advised to bring their own personal medication.
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