Middle East and North Africa

Iran
Still current at: 27 November 2009 Updated: 21 October 2009

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and to the Terrorism & Security section (suicide bombing in Sistan-Baluchestan). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer)

Travel advice for this country

Health

Medical facilities are reasonable in the major cities in Iran but poor in remote areas.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 85,000 adults aged 15 or over in Iran were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.2% 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 Iran and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general diseases for Iran 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.

H1N1 - Swine Flu

There have been a number of confirmed human cases of the A(H1N1) Swine Influenza virus in Iran, including a number of deaths, and increased surveillance and control measures are in place at Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA).

Travellers who exhibit influenza symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and/or signs of fever are asked to report them on arrival and will be referred to a separate area of the airport for further diagnosis.

Any traveller with suspected H1N1 will be quarantined. Those persons confirmed with the H1N1 virus will be started on a course of anti-viral treatment (Tamiflu).

There are currently no exit checks for travellers leaving the country. Nor are there restrictions on travellers arriving from overseas.

Further general information on Swine Flu can be found on the following websites: www.hpa.org.uk, www.dh.gov.uk and www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

In November 2005 the Iranian authorities have confirmed outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in wild swans in Anzali Wetlands and in domestic poultry in the northern Iranian provinces of Azarbaiyan and Gilan. The World Health Organisation (WHO) have also confirmed cases elsewhere in the region, although there have been no human infections or deaths reported. There have been a number of confirmed human fatalities in Eastern Turkey, 45 kilometres from the border with Iran, and in Iraq. 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.