Namibia
Avoid dental treatment as the standards of care and hygiene cannot be guaranteed.
Some international medication is available from the hospitals and larger pharmacies in the bigger towns and cities. Check expiry dates as they are often out of date
Blood supplies should be considered as unsafe in Mozambique
Medical facilities are relatively modern, especially in the capital city of Windhoek.
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. Wear clothing that 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.
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).
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.
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 illness: unlikely to be a major health problem for the traveler (with the exception of malaria as noted).
Plague - occurs
Relapsing fever - occurs
Rift Valley fever - occurs
Tick-bite fever - occurs
Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) - occurs
Typhus - occurs (mainly tick-borne)
Food-borne and water-borne illness: these diseases are common in some areas, particularly amoebiasis and the typhoid fevers. Hepatitis occurs.
Other hazards:
Diseases such as measles and diphtheria are commonly reported. Polio is still considered a possible risk, although cases have rarely been reported in recent years.
Influenza risk extends from May to October in areas south of the Tropic of Capricorn and throughout the year in areas north of that.
Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers coming from infected areas. The countries, or parts of countries, in the endemic zones are regarded as infected.
Travelers on scheduled airlines whose flights have originated outside the areas regarded as infected and who are in transit through these areas are not required to possess a certificate provided they have remained at the scheduled airport or in the adjacent town during transit.
All passengers whose flights have originated in one of these areas or who are traveling in transit through these areas on unscheduled flights are required to possess a certificate.
The certificate is not insisted upon in the case of children under 1 year of age, but such infants may be subject to surveillance.
