Travelling? Check what you need
Vaccines and precautions for your destination.
Ethiopia
Required
2
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is present. A valid international vaccination certificate is required for entry (vaccination at least 10 days before travel).
Disease guide
- Definition
- A viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito.
- Symptoms
- Sudden rise in temperature, muscle pain, severe back pain, headache and vomiting; in severe cases jaundice appears about two weeks after onset.
- Incubation period
- 6 days.
- Prevention
- Vaccination at least 10 days before travel (certificate valid for life, 10 days after vaccination). Avoid the outdoors after sunset, use repellents and insecticides, sleep under nets and behind screened windows, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Precautions
- Vaccination at least 10 days before travel (certificate valid for life, 10 days after vaccination). Avoid the outdoors after sunset, use repellents and insecticides, sleep under nets and behind screened windows, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
Poliomyelitis
Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) is present. Proof of polio vaccination, or vaccination at the port of entry, is required.
Disease guide
- Definition
- An acute, highly contagious viral disease caused by the poliovirus.
- Symptoms
- Signs range from mild symptoms without paralysis (fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and neck stiffness) to acute flaccid paralysis.
- Incubation period
- Ranges from 3 to 35 days, usually 7 to 14 days.
- Prevention
- Travellers to and from affected countries should receive a booster dose of polio vaccine 4 weeks to 12 months before travel and carry an international vaccination certificate as specified in Annex 6 of the IHR.
- Precautions
- Travellers to and from affected countries should receive a booster dose of polio vaccine 4 weeks to 12 months before travel and carry an international vaccination certificate as specified in Annex 6 of the IHR.
Recommended
6
Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is endemic. Vaccination is recommended before travel (required with a certificate for Hajj/Umrah travel to Saudi Arabia).
Disease guide
- Definition
- Inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain, caused by various microbes; a leading cause of illness and death worldwide.
- Symptoms
- Fever with one or more of: neck stiffness, impaired consciousness, bleeding under the skin, and other meningeal signs.
- Incubation period
- 2 to 10 days, most often 3 to 4 days.
- Prevention
- Travellers to the African meningitis belt and pilgrims to Saudi Arabia (Hajj/Umrah) must be vaccinated against meningococcal disease at least 10 days before travel and present a vaccination certificate (for travel to Saudi Arabia).
- Precautions
- Travellers to the African meningitis belt and pilgrims to Saudi Arabia (Hajj/Umrah) must be vaccinated against meningococcal disease at least 10 days before travel and present a vaccination certificate (for travel to Saudi Arabia).
Malaria
Malaria is present in this country. Follow the personal-protection precautions below.
Disease guide
- Definition
- A parasitic disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
- Symptoms
- Unexplained fever and/or other clinical signs such as headache, back pain, chills, sweating, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, often with an enlarged spleen and anaemia.
- Incubation period
- From several days to one month.
- Prevention
- Travellers to affected countries should obtain chemoprophylaxis. Avoid the outdoors after sunset, use repellents and insecticides, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Precautions
- Travellers to affected countries should obtain chemoprophylaxis. Avoid the outdoors after sunset, use repellents and insecticides, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
Dengue fever
Dengue fever is present in this country. Follow the personal-protection precautions below.
Disease guide
- Definition
- A viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito infected with one of four different dengue virus serotypes.
- Symptoms
- Mild fever to a severe rise in temperature, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and a skin rash.
- Incubation period
- From 3 days to two weeks, usually about 4 to 7 days.
- Prevention
- No vaccination; observe personal protection against mosquito bites. Avoid the outdoors after sunset, use repellents and insecticides, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Precautions
- No vaccination; observe personal protection against mosquito bites. Avoid the outdoors after sunset, use repellents and insecticides, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
Zika virus
Zika virus transmission occurs. Protect against mosquito bites; pregnant women should postpone travel.
Disease guide
- Definition
- A viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Symptoms
- Raised temperature, skin rash, conjunctival redness, muscle and joint pain, headache and general weakness.
- Incubation period
- 14 days.
- Prevention
- Pregnant women should postpone travel to protect the foetus; if travel is essential, follow personal protection against mosquito bites. Use repellents, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Precautions
- Pregnant women should postpone travel to protect the foetus; if travel is essential, follow personal protection against mosquito bites. Use repellents, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is present in this country. Follow the personal-protection precautions below.
Disease guide
- Definition
- A disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Symptoms
- Fever and excruciating joint pain, as well as muscle pain, headache, vomiting, fatigue and a skin rash.
- Incubation period
- 12 days.
- Prevention
- No vaccination; observe personal protection against mosquito bites. Use repellents, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Precautions
- No vaccination; observe personal protection against mosquito bites. Use repellents, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
Cholera
Cholera is present. Oral cholera vaccination and safe food and water practices are recommended.
Disease guide
- Definition
- An acute bacterial intestinal disease that can cause death within hours if untreated.
- Symptoms
- Ranges from mild cases with diarrhoea only to a severe sudden form with profuse painless watery stools and sometimes vomiting, leading to fluid loss, rapid dehydration and kidney failure.
- Incubation period
- 5 days.
- Prevention
- Oral cholera vaccination is advised, two doses 14 days apart before travel to affected countries. Observe safe food and water practices.
- Precautions
- Oral cholera vaccination is advised, two doses 14 days apart before travel to affected countries. Observe safe food and water practices.
Routine
1
Measles
Measles is circulating. Ensure routine measles immunisation is up to date before travel.
Disease guide
- Definition
- An acute, highly contagious viral disease.
- Symptoms
- Fever and a skin rash with runny nose, conjunctivitis and cough; characterised by white spots on the oral mucosa, with the rash usually appearing on the fourth day of fever.
- Incubation period
- Usually 10 days, ranging from 7 to 14 days.
- Prevention
- Review and update routine measles immunisation before travel.
- Precautions
- Review and update routine measles immunisation before travel.