Health risks

Eritrea is a poor, but developing east African country. Formerly a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea became an independent country on May 24, 1993, following a 30-year struggle that culminated in an overwhelming referendum vote for independence. Tourism facilities are very limited. The capital is Asmara.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia related to a border dispute escalated in May 1998, resulting in armed conflict the following month. Hostilities erupted again in February 1999 and May 2000. Eritrea and Ethiopia reached a cease-fire agreement in June 2000 and signed a peace agreement on December 12, 2000. The United Nations authorized a peacekeeping force along the Eritrean-Ethiopian border in September 2000. The first peace observers arrived that month and peacekeeping troops are to begin deployment in January.

Land travel west, south and southeast of Barentu is dangerous and should be avoided. On December 4, 2000, three separate mine incidents were reported on well-traveled roads within a 24-kilometer radius south of the western Eritrean city of Barentu. In late January, near the town of Antore in western Eritrea, two people were killed and two wounded when a pickup truck detonated a land mine. Also in late January, another mine detonation killed two people and wounded six in western Eritrea, 36 kilometers west of the town of Guluj, near the Sudanese border. The December and January incidents appear to have involved freshly laid mines.

Mines remain throughout the country. Visitors should avoid travelling at night and on unpaved and secondary roads. They should avoid walking alone and hiking in riverbeds or areas that local government officials do not certify as safe.

CRIME: Street crime, such as theft and robbery is rare in Asmara and other cities and towns, but it is increasing. Travellers should exercise normal safety precautions regarding valuables carried and areas visited.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical facilities in Eritrea are extremely limited. Travellers must bring their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventative medicines because pharmaceuticals are in short supply.

More than 20 mill. people are infected by HIV in the subsaharian Africa.

Arthropodborne diseases are a great problem in this region af Africa.

We recommend:

  • Usage of long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects
  • Usage of insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%–35% strength for adults and 6%–10% for children. Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
  • Usage of a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin.
  • Staying and sleeping in air-conditioned houses

Arthropod borne diseases:

  • Malaria
  • Filariasis
  • Leishamaniasis in arid areas
  • Relapsing fever
  • Epidemic typhus
  • Onchocerciasis

Water- and foodborne diseases:

  • Cholera
  • Amoebiasis
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis E
  • Typhoid fever
  • Giardiasis
  • ETEC (E.coli)

Other diseases:

  • Hepatitis B
  • Trachoma
  • HIV
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis)
  • Meningitis

Vaccinations recommended:

  • Hepatitis A or Immune Globulin (IG)
  • Hepatitis B or Immune Globulin
  • Meningitis
  • Yellow fever when entering fom a yellow fever endemic region.
  • Typhoid fever - vaccination is particularly important because of the presence of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in this region
  • Rabies - if risk for contact with wild or domestic animals
  • A booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within th last 10 years.

Stay healthy:

  • Wash hands often with soap and water.
  • Drink only boiled water, or water and carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans
  • Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
  • Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it
  • Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
  • Prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot
  • Do not travel at night
  • Trafic accidents are frequent, be careful
  • Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
  • Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.
  • Use mefloquine as malaria prophylaxis.(Chloroquine resistance)

Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas.

Recommended immunisations: diphtheria, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, malaria, *meningitis, polio, *TB, tetanus, typhoid * recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: malaria exists all year throughout the country below 2,200 metres. There is no risk in Asmara. Rabies.

Blood transfusion & tissue transplantation risk according to UK BTS:

  • Malaria: Yes, All year in whole country
  • Maliaria Risk Category: A
  • Trypanasoma Cruzi Risk: No
  • Sub Saharan Africa: Yes
  • West Nile Virus Risk: No
  • Chikungunya Virus Risk: No

Yellow fever vaccination requirements and recommendations and malaria situation in Eritrea
Food and Water Safety
HIV Risk
Check travelers health risks by CDC before, after and while traveling to Eritrea and prevention before arrival at Eritrea.

Travel data, health safety, warnings and recommendations for Canadian who willing to visit Eritrea