Sub Saharan Africa

Medical facilities are limited, particularly in rural areas.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Gabon you should seek immediate medical attention.

There has been a confirmed human case of the A (H1N1) virus (Swine Flu) in Gabon (source: World Health Organisation). The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. Check the FCO Swine Flu page for further information.

 

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 46,000 adults aged 15 or over in Gabon were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 5.9% 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 Gabon 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 NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

 

For more general health information see Travel health.