North and Central America and Caribbean

There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.

Public hospitals in Nicaragua are not well equipped and although they do not charge for emergency services, they do charge for all supplies and medicines which would normally need to be bought from outside as stocks are not maintained in hospitals.  Each department of the country has its own public hospital.  It is worth noting that Medical staff do not always speak English and you may need a good understanding of Spanish to use the health facilities.  In addition, in an emergency, patients will be taken to the nearest hospital, which is usually a public organisation, unless the patient indicates they are able to pay for treatment.  Payment for healthcare us usually accepted in cash.

Many doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service although a few private hospitals will accept major credit cards for payment.  There are about 10 private hospitals/clinics in Managua.

Malaria is common to Nicaragua while there are occasional cases of cholera and Leptospirosis. Tap water in Managua has been tested and found safe for drinking. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Nicaragua you should seek immediate medical attention.
 

Dengue Fever is common to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year.  There has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region, including deaths in Nicaragua.  A significant number of reported cases in Nicaragua have been in the northern mountainous areas bordering Honduras where widespread deforestation has occurred.  There is no vaccine or immunisation to prevent dengue fever and you should take usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 7,500 adults aged 15 or over in Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua 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 Heath 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.