|
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| Iraq
Health |
 |
|
| |
Special
Precautions |
Certificate
Required |
| Yellow
Fever |
No |
A |
| Cholera |
No |
No |
| Typhoid
and Polio |
B |
Not
applicable |
| Malaria |
C |
Not
applicable |
|
| |
A
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is compulsory
from travellers coming from infected areas.
B
Vaccination against typhoid is recommended.
C
Malaria
risk is almost entirely in the benign vivax form and exists from
May to November mainly in areas in the north below 1,500 metres
(4,920 feet), Basrah, Ninawa, Erbil, Duhok, Sulaimaniya and Ta’min
Province. The advised prophylaxis is chloroquine.
Health care
Health insurance including emergency repatriation cover is vital.
Basic modern medical care and medicines may not be accessible. Doctors
and hospitals often demand immediate cash payment for services.
Food and Drink
All water should be regarded as being possibly contaminated. Water
used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have 1st
been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised
and must be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is
advised, but make sure that it is mixed with pure water.
Avoid dairy products which could have been made
from unboiled milk. Only eat well cooked fish and
meat, preferably served hot. Salad, pork and mayonnaise
may carry increased risk. Fruit should be peeled and vegetables
should be cooked.
Other risks
Bilharzia (otherwise known as schistosomiasis)
is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water, swimming
pools which are well chlorinated and looked after are safe. Diarrhoeal
diseases, including dysentery, giardiasis, and
typhoid fever are common.
Hepatitis B
is widespread and hepatitis A is widespread. Visceral
leishmaniasis is frequent in central Iraq. Cutaneous leishmaniasis
is also reported, as well as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Tick
borne relapsing fever may arise.
Rabies
is present in Iraq. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival
should be contemplated. If you are bitten, please seek medical advice
without delay.
Note
All travellers entering Iraq are required to take an AIDS
test, and a fee will be charged for this. Travellers suffering from
AIDS, syphilis, tuberculosis or leprosy will be deported. |
| Useful travel links |
| CDC |
Official site of the US Centers
for Disease Control |
| MASTA |
The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers |
| No
jet lag |
All about jet lag. What is it and who gets
it |
| SOS |
International SOS |
| WHO |
The official site of the World Health Organization |
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