Sub Saharan Africa

There have been a small number of confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) – Swine Flu in Uganda. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6.  The WHO website at www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details.  You should monitor media reports for any developments and advice.

On arrival at Entebbe Airport, visitors should be aware that they will need to complete an arrival form giving details of recent travel and that they may be screened by Ugandan medical staff.  Anyone exhibiting symptoms associated with swine flu is likely to be quarantined.  Local medical facilities for treating cases of swine flu are basic but adequate.

There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk.

Only limited medical facilities are available outside Kampala.  The capability to provide medical help at the scene of an accident is limited.  In the case of serious accident or illness an evacuation by air ambulance may be required.

Malaria is a common and serious problem throughout Uganda. There are regular outbreaks of a wide range of serious diseases in Uganda.  You should seek medical advice before travelling to Uganda 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.

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

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 810,000 adults aged 15 or over in Uganda were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 5.4% 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.

For more general health information see Travel Health.