Travelling? Check what you need
Vaccines and precautions for your destination.
Guinea
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
Poliovirus (cVDPV3) circulates. An international polio vaccination certificate is required; a booster dose 4 weeks to 12 months before travel is advised.
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
4
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.
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.
Lassa fever
Lassa fever is present in this country. Follow the personal-protection precautions below.
Disease guide
- Definition
- Lassa virus is transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodent urine or faeces, and can also spread from person to person, particularly in healthcare settings lacking adequate infection control.
- Symptoms
- Gradual onset of fever, general weakness and malaise, followed days later by headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough and abdominal pain; severe cases may show facial swelling and oral bleeding.
- Incubation period
- 6 to 21 days.
- Prevention
- No vaccination; avoid contact with rodents and contaminated items, and observe personal hygiene.
- Precautions
- No vaccination; avoid contact with rodents and contaminated items, and observe personal hygiene.