Asia and Oceania

Tajikistan is a very poor country, with poor medical facilities and a shortage of basic medical supplies.  Brand name drugs may not be genuine. 

 

TB, typhoid and cholera occur in Tajikistan.  There are occasional cases of malaria in summer in the Khatlon region and in the south of Gorno-Badakhshan.

 

You should not drink tap water and you should also particular care over food and drink preparation.  You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Tajikistan you should seek medical attention immediately.

 

If you plan to stay for more than 90 days you must present a medical certificate that you are HIV-free, or take a test.  We advise against taking the test in Tajikistan, due to the poor quality of medical facilities.

 

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 10,000 adults aged 15 or over in Tajikistan were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.3% 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 our HIV and AIDS page.

 

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Tajikistan 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 visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. 

 

For more general information see our Travel Health and Swine Flu pages.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been no reported cases of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Tajikistan during the current series of outbreaks.  But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed cases elsewhere in the region.

 

For further information and advice see our Avian and Pandemic Influenza page.