Sub Saharan Africa

Medical facilities are poor in Benin, particularly in rural areas.

Water-borne diseases (including cholera), tuberculosis, meningitis and malaria are common in Benin. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 59,000 adults aged 15 or over in Benin were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.2% 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 Benin 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.

 

The World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) has confirmed that there have been outbreaks of H5N1 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in poultry at a farm in Cotonou and in villages of Adjara and Akpro-misserete, approximately 40 km north of Cotonou. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

In December 2007, outbreaks were confirmed in Porto Novo and Dangbo.

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.

See Avian and Pandemic Flu for more details.