Vaccinations are essential in Africa; some countries even need a Yellow Fever Certificate in your visa application or before you can enter their country. Due to their vast jungles, various wildlife, and sometimes poor and unsanitary living conditions, viruses and diseases may arise. There have been a lot of outbreaks or epidemic diseases in this continent, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. With the recent Corona Virus Outbreak, you need to be more vigilant.

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Be protected and safe in your travels in Africa especially if going to remote areas, remember Hospitals may be far or minimal, so we recommend you to be protected. Here are the vaccinations needed for travels in Africa:

Routine vaccinations for international travel and health as per World Health Organizations:

The following are additional vaccinations recommended for Africa:

Cholera
Hepatitis A
Meningococcal meningitis
Rabies
Tick-borne encephalitis
Typhoid
Yellow Fever

In case you want to know more, here is the explanation for those required vaccinations:

Cholera

How it spreads: Infected food or water
Recommended for Travel to sub-Saharan Africa

Cholera is caused by a toxic bacteria that multiply in the small intestine resulting in intense vomiting, watery poop leading to dehydration and if not cured immediately death.

Hepatitis A

How it spreads: Contaminated food or water
Recommended for travel to sub-Saharan Africa

Hepatitis A is from a virus infecting liver cells and causes its inflammation. Its symptoms are like flu; however those who have Hep A have dark yellow urine, and jaundice (skin and the white of eyes become yellowish.)

Meningococcal meningitis

How it spreads: Coughing, Sneezing or Kissing
Recommended for travel to sub-Saharan Africa, which is known as the “meningitis belt.”

The bacteria can spread from the bloodstream to the brain and can lead to paralysis, stroke, or death.

Rabies

How it spreads: Bite or Scratch from infected animals
Recommended for most long-term or animal-contact travelers

Rabies virus invades the nervous system of mammals; it transfers from an animal’s saliva. Rabies usually comes from dogs, so be very careful in petting random dogs in the streets. A dog may have rabies if it bites without being provoked, running for no reason or excessive salivation or foaming of the mouth. If a person bit has pain and itching in the wound, hyperactivity, sensitivity to noise, and fear of water, he/she might have rabies.

Note: Even if vaccinated by rabies, a person needs another shot if the bite resulted in bleeding and the animal that bit the person is dead, displays rabid behavior or is positive of rabies. If the dog is vaccinated, another shot is not needed.

Tick-borne encephalitis

How it spreads: Tick Bites or Consumption of dairy products from an infected animal
Recommended for anyone planning to live or work in a high-risk region, or for late spring or summer hiking and camping. The ticks causing TBE can be detected in East Africa in some nations.

TBE can cause malfunctions primarily the central nervous system and can cause seizures, paralysis, or brain damage.

Typhoid

How it spreads: Contaminated food or water
Recommended if you have prolonged exposure to places where there is poor sanitation or food hygiene or if you are staying or working with locals.

Typhoid is caused by Salmonella typhi. This bacteria makes the person have a fever, headaches, vomiting, abdominal pains, and loss of appetite. It can be deadly if not treated immediately.

Yellow Fever

How it spreads: Infected Mosquito Bite
A mosquito becomes infected when they bite an infected human or monkey and infects another person by biting him/her. It is a big step above normal fever because it also causes internal bleeding, shock, organ failure, and death.

Here is the recommendation per country according to the World Health Organization:

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As for routine vaccines, here are the explanations:

Diphtheria

How it spreads: infected wound or person-to-person contact
The bacteria lives in mouth, throat, and nose and produces a potent toxin that kills cells.

Hepatitis B

How it spreads: open sores, contact with blood or exchange body fluids (Sex, needles, etc.) with someone infected
HepB causes an infection of your liver that can scar organs, liver failure, or cancer.

Haemophilus Influenzae type B

How it spreads: Airborne
This also triggers possibly serious inflammatory infections of the face, mouth, blood, joints, heart, bones, peritoneum, and trachea as opposed to regular influenza

Human papillomavirus

How it spreads: enter through wounds, Skin to skin contact, Sex
The most common sexually transmitted infection, it can cause genital wart or cervical cancer

Seasonal influenza

How it spreads: Airborne
Acute respiratory infection

Measles

How it spreads: Airborne
This contagious respiratory disease can cause a rash and fever.

Mumps

How it spreads: Saliva or sharing utensils
Mumps causes inflammation of salivary glands. A person may have puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.

Pertussis

How it spreads: Airborne
Whooping cough creates uncontrollable, violent coughing, often making breathing difficult

Rubella

How it spreads: Cough or sneeze from an infected person
Milder than measles; however, if a pregnant woman has German measles, it can cause severe birth defects.

Pneumococcal disease

How it spreads: Cough or sneeze from an infected person
It can cause a middle ear infection, a blood infection, pneumonia, or bacterial meningitis.

Poliomyelitis (Polio)

How it spreads: Contaminated food or water
The virus extends to the brain and spinal cord of an infected person and may trigger paralysis.

Rotavirus

How it spreads: Contaminated food or water
Common with babies, it can cause diarrhea leading to dehydration.

Tuberculosis (TB)

How it spreads: Cough or sneeze from an infected person
The bacteria usually attack the lungs; TB is slow though and might not be known in an early stage.

Tetanus

How it spreads: Wound
Commonly known as lockjaw, this is a disease that impacts your nervous system, resulting in painful muscle contractions, especially of the muscle of your jaw and neck.

Varicella

How it spreads: Direct Contact or Airborne
Chickenpox is a contagious disease that can cause an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters.

Corona Virus

With the recent outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), here are basic protective measures against it by the World Health Organization. No one in Africa has been infected, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Wash your hands frequently (use soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub)
Maintain at least 1 meter between yourself and someone who is coughing or sneezing
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth as they are places where the virus can enter your body
Manners – cover your mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze
If you have a cough, fever, or difficulty in breathing – go to a doctor
Stay informed

Remember to have not only vaccinations but also medical insurance. I recommend Safetywing Insurance. Be very careful in your travels too, make sure to cover yourself and have mosquito repellants. Watch what you eat and be sure the water you drink is clean also. Staying healthy and safe is the key to long-term traveling.

Vaccinations may be quite expensive, but it can prevent us from spending time recovering in the hospital or being disabled or worse, facing death. It’s a small sacrifice we pay for our travels, but it will be worth it. I hope you go to the doctor and schedule when to take these vaccinations before traveling to Africa! Happy travels.

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