Middle East and North Africa

Medical facilities in Yemen, particularly away from the main towns, are poor.

Polio and malaria are common to Yemen.  Polio is present in some Red Sea coastal towns and malaria is also present in low-lying areas along the Red Sea.

There have been reports of a dengue fever outbreak in the Arabian Gulf coast and in the western coastal towns of al-Hodeidah and Mokha and the hill area of al-Dali’.  The most recent outbreak occurred in Shabwa province, in southern Yemen, where nearly 1,000 people have been infected with dengue since mid-May 2008. Three of the province's 17 districts have reported cases: Mayfaa, Hotaib, and al-Saeed.

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 to Yemen 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 health information see Travel Health and Swine Flu.