Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended - including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.

• Cholera

  Travel health advice relating to cholera.

  Spread through consumption of contaminated water and food. More common during floods and after natural disasters, in areas with very poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water. It would be unusual for travellers to contract cholera if they take basic precautions with food and water and maintain a good standard of hygiene.

  Last Updated: 6th Aug, 2014

• Diphtheria

  Travel health advice relating to diphtheria.

  Spread person to person through respiratory droplets. Risk is higher if mixing with locals in poor, overcrowded living conditions.

  Last Updated: 8th Sep, 2016

• Hepatitis A

  Travel health advice relating to hepatitis A.

  Spread through consuming contaminated food and water or person to person through the faecal-oral route. Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation are poor.

  Last Updated: 6th Aug, 2014

• Hepatitis B

  Travel health advice relating to hepatitis B.

  Spread through infected blood and blood products, contaminated needles and medical instruments and sexual intercourse. Risk is higher for those at occupational risk, long stays or frequent travel, children (exposed through cuts and scratches) and individuals who may need, or request, surgical procedures abroad.

  Last Updated: 24th Sep, 2015

• Poliomyelitis

  Travel health advice relating to poliomyelitis.

  Spread person to person through the faecal-oral route and by consuming contaminated food and water. A total of 5 doses of polio vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended for countries where polio remains a problem.

  Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016

• Rabies

  Travel health advice relating to rabies.

  Spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite, scratch or lick on broken skin. Particularly dogs and related species, but also bats. Risk is higher for those going to remote areas (who may not be able to promptly access appropriate treatment in the event of a bite), long stays, those at higher risk of contact with animals and bats, and children. Even when pre-exposure vaccine has been received, urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal or bat bite.

  Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016

• Tetanus

  Travel health advice relating to tetanus.

  Spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.

  Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016

• Typhoid

  Travel health advice relating to typhoid.

  Spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited.

  Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016

Yellow fever vaccination certificate required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.

Precaution

• Malaria risk is present from May to November in areas below 2000m.
• Malaria precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.
• Check with your doctor or nurse about suitable antimalarial tablets.
• High risk areas: atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine is usually advised during May to November.
• Low to no risk areas: antimalarials are not usually advised
• If you have been travelling in a malarious area and develop a fever seek medical attention promptly. Remember malaria can develop even up to one year after exposure.
• If travelling to high risk malarious areas, remote from medical facilities, carrying emergency malaria standby medication may be considered

• Altitude and Travel
  This country has either areas with high altitude (2400m or more) or/and areas with very high altitude (3658m or more). Travellers who may go into areas of high altitude should take care to avoid ill effects of being at altitude including Acute Mountain Sickness, a potentially life-threatening condition.

• Dengue Fever
  A viral illness that is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. The mosquito that spreads dengue bites during the day and is more common in urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, severe joint, bone and muscular pain - hence its other name 'breakbone fever'. There is no vaccine and prevention is through avoidance of mosquito bites.

Polio Vaccination Exit Recommendations

Travellers visiting this country for longer than 4 weeks maybe advised to have a booster dose of a polio containing vaccine if they have not had one in the past 12 months. They should carry proof of having had this vaccination. Please speak to your travel health adviser to discuss.

Polio Vaccine Requirement for India - As of 1 March 2014, resident nationals of Afghanistan are required to receive one dose of oral polio vaccine regardless of age or vaccination status, at least four weeks prior to departure to India. A certificate of vaccination is required when applying for an entry visa to India. This is a requirement of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

• Poliomyelitis in Afghanistan (Update) - published 16th Sep, 2016

• Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Afghanistan - published 15th Sep, 2016

• Poliomyelitis in Afghanistan (Update) - published 2nd Sep, 2016

• International Measures to Stop Spread of Wild Poliovirus (Update) - published 23rd Aug, 2016

• International Measures to Stop Spread of Wild Poliovirus (Update) - published 20th Aug, 2015

• Poliomyelitis in Afghanistan - published 10th Nov, 2014