Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Health

The medical facilities in Kazakhstan are not as advanced as those in the UK. You should ensure that your medical insurance includes evacuation by air ambulance.

(A) H1N1 flu (swine flu)

There have been human cases of the H1N1 virus reported in Kazakhstan (source: Kazakh Chief Public Health Prosecutor). All international airports now operate heat sensors (to detect abnormal body temperatures) on arrival. Passengers arriving on flights from designated high-risk countries, of which the United Kingdom is one, are automatically screened. Any passengers displaying symptoms of (A) H1N1 may be held in quarantine facilities located at international airports for up to 24 hours before being taken to a local hospital under the supervision of the Kazakh Sanitary-Epidemiological Centre for further tests and treatment. If quarantined, or isolated for health reasons British nationals are advised to contact the British Embassy.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) pandemic threat alert phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any further developments and advice. There is a dedicated the swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu is available on the UK Department of Health website.

Avian influenza (bird flu)

There were reports of outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) around Northern Kazakhstan in July and August 2005 and in the Caspian Sea region in January 2006. The Kazakh authorities believe that the situation is now under control and preventive measures are in place. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with avian and pandemic influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.

Tick-borne encephalitis is common to Kazakhstan, especially in mountains and forests, particularly from April to June.

Cases of TB have been reported in the Aral Sea and Semipalatinsk regions, as well as in prisons. There have also been recent outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever (a tick-borne disease) with renal syndrome in southern Kazakhstan. There have been 7 fatalities from 17 confirmed cases so far in 2009 in this region. In rural areas there are occasional cases of brucellosis picked up from infected meat.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 12,800 adults aged 15 or over in Kazakhstan were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Kazakhstan and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should check the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see travel health.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There were reports of outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) around Northern Kazakhstan in July and August 2005 and in the Caspian Sea region in January 2006. The Kazakh authorities believe that the situation is now under control and preventive measures are in place. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with avian and pandemic influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.