Ethiopia
Avoid dental treatment in Ethiopia as the standards of care and hygiene cannot be guaranteed.
There is little medication available in Ethiopia
Blood supplies should be considered as unsafe in Ethiopia
Health facilities are extremely limited in Addis Ababa and completely inadequate outside the capital. Although physicians are generally well trained, even the best hospitals in Addis Ababa suffer from inadequate facilities, antiquated equipment and shortages of supplies (particularly medicine). Emergency assistance is limited. Travelers must bring their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventative medicines.
Recent medical and dental exams should ensure that the traveler is in good health. Carry appropriate health and accident insurance documents and copies of any important medical records. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and other medications as well as any necessary personal hygiene items, including a spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses if necessary.
Drink only bottled beverages (including water) or beverages made with boiled water. Do not use ice cubes or eat raw seafood, rare meat or dairy products. Eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors.
Swim only in well-maintained, chlorinated pools or ocean water known to be free from pollution; avoid freshwater lakes, streams and rivers. Wear clothing which reduces exposed skin and apply repellents containing DEET to remaining areas. Sleep in well-screened accommodations. Carry anti-diarrheal medication. Reduce problems related to sun exposure by using sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen lotions and lip protection.
AIDS occurs. Blood supply may not be adequately screened and/or single-use, disposable needles and syringes may be unavailable. When possible, travelers should defer medical treatment until reaching a facility where safety can be assured.
The altitude in Addis Ababa can cause dizziness, insomnia, shortness of breath and fatigue.
Hepatitis A: Consider active immunization with hepatitis A vaccine or passive immunization with immune globulin (IG) for all susceptible travelers. Especially consider choosing active immunization for persons planning to reside for a long period or for persons who take frequent short-term trips to risk areas. The importance of protection against hepatitis A increases as length of stay increases. It is particularly important for persons who will be living in or visiting rural areas, eating or drinking in settings of poor or uncertain sanitation, or who will have close contact with local persons (especially young children) in settings with poor sanitary conditions.
Hepatitis B: Vaccination is advised for health care workers, persons anticipating direct contact with blood from or sexual contact with inhabitants, and persons planning extended stays of 6 months or greater (especially those who anticipate using local health care facilities, staying in rural areas, or having intimate contact with the local population).
Meningitis: Meningococcal vaccine is recommended for travelers, particularly during the December-June dry season when epidemics are most likely to occur. Importance of vaccination increases with length of stay and/or exposure to crowded conditions. Pregnancy is a relative contraindication to vaccination. Protection may be less effective for infants and children aged 3-23 months than it is for persons aged 2 years and older.
Polio: A one-time booster dose is recommended for travelers who have previously completed a standard course of polio immunization. Refer to CDC guidelines for vaccinating unimmunized or incompletely immunized persons. Pregnancy is a relative contraindication to vaccination; however, if protection is needed, either IPV or OPV may be used, depending on preference and time available.
Rabies: Preexposure vaccination should be considered for persons staying longer than 30 days who are expected to be at risk to bites from domestic and/or wild animals (particularly dogs), or for persons engaged in high risk activities such as spelunking or animal handling. Need for vaccination is more important if potential exposure is in rural areas and if adequate postexposure care is not readily available.
Typhoid: Vaccination should be considered for persons staying longer than 3 weeks, adventurous eaters, and those who will venture off the usual tourist routes into small cities, villages and rural areas. Importance of vaccination increases as access to reasonable medical care becomes limited. Contraindications depend on vaccine type.
Yellow fever: Vaccination is recommended for travelers over 9 months of age going outside of urban areas.
Note: All routine vaccines (such as DTP or Td, Hib, MMR, polio, varicella, influenza and pneumococcal) should be kept up-to-date as a matter of good health practice unrelated to travel.
Insect-borne diseases: are major causes of illness. Many diseases, including yellow fever, are endemic, with only scattered cases being reported and, from time to time, more extensive outbreaks.
Dengue fever - occurs
Filariasis - prevalent
Leishmaniasis - occurs (both cutaneous and visceral types are found: cutaneous is endemic in the highlands above 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) with prevalence reaching 11% in some western areas; visceral occurs in the south, southwest and northwest with prevalence rates of up to 64% in both low- and high-altitude areas)
Onchocerciasis (river blindness) - prevalent (more than 1.3 million cases estimated in the population; the problem is endemic in the western part of the country)
Malaria - prevalent
Relapsing fever - occurs (more than 10,000 cases of louse-borne relapsing fever reported annually - the world's highest rate)
Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) - occurs (human and animal types - due to Trypanosoma brucei - is endemic in much of western Ethiopia at elevations below 6,500 feet [2,000 meters])
Typhus - occurs (louse-, flea-, and tick-borne types occur with louse-borne predominating to a significant degree)
Food-borne and water-borne illness: highly endemic. The dysenteries and diarrheal diseases, giardiasis, the typhoid fevers and viral hepatitis are widespread. Echinococcosis (hydatid disease) is widespread in animal-breeding areas.
Dracunculiasis - occurs
Helminthic (parasitic worm) infections - prevalent
Schistosomiasis - common (risk of Schistosoma mansoni infection is predominantly found between 4,900-6,500 feet [1,500-2,000 meters], while S. haemotobium is endemic in several lowland areas; more than 2.5 million Ethiopians are infected, and the spread of the disease is expected to continue)
Other hazards:
Diseases such as measles and diphtheria are commonly reported, and cases of polio still occur regularly.
Influenza risk extends throughout the year.
Meningococcal meningitis - occurs (risk is highest during the December-June dry season, when epidemics are most likely)
Rabies - occurs
Trachoma - prevalent
Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas. (Contrary to published requirements, the U.S. Embassy reports that proof of yellow fever vaccination is required of all travelers; however, this policy may not be consistently enforced.)
