Middle East and North Africa

Iraqi authorities are checking travellers for Swine Flu at ports of entry; those with a high temperature may be taken to a clinic or hospital for further tests.  For further information, please see our ‘Swine Flu’ page.

Limited medical facilities are available.  In the event of serious accident or illness, an evacuation by air ambulance may be required.

 

Malaria is common in some rural areas in the north and in Basra province in the south.

 

By November 2008 twelve out of the eighteen provinces across Iraq have had outbreaks of cholera. Local authorities are working to contain the outbreak. As a precaution you should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Iraq you should seek immediate medical attention.  If you are travelling to Jordan you may be asked to either prove you have been vaccinated against cholera or you may be required to take antibiotics.

 

The temperature in summer months can exceed 40 ºC (104ºF) and drop as low as 10ºC (50ºF), which can result in dehydration and serious health problems.   Drink plenty of water.  Weather conditions are arduous.

 

You should exercise 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 and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  NHS Direct (0845 46 47) can provide you with advice on the vaccination requirements for Iraq.

For further information on endemic diseases, like malaria, health outbreaks and vaccination requirements for Iraq you should check the websites of NaTHNaC or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel.

 

For more general information see Travel health

 

Avian Influenza

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that there were two human deaths from the H5N1 Avian Flu (Bird Flu) virus near Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdistan Regional Government administered northern area of Iraq, in early 2006.

Since the end of 2003, a number of human deaths from Avian Influenza have occurred in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Laos, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low.  However, 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.

The WHO has warned of the possibility that the Avian Influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if the virus mutates to a form which is easily transmissible between people.

British nationals living longer term in an Avian Influenza affected region should take personal responsibility for their own safety in the event of a further pandemic, including considering their access to adequate healthcare and ensuring travel documents are up to date.

You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.