Somalia

Country fact file

General Information

The information on these pages should be used to research health risks and to inform the pre-travel consultation. Travellers should check the Foreign Office travel advice page (where available) which provides information on travel entry requirements in addition to safety and security advice. Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel. However, even if time is short, an appointment is still worthwhile. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities. For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended. All travellers should ensure they have adequate travel health insurance. A list of useful resources including advice on how to reduce the risk of certain health problems is available below.

Ressources

• Food and water hygiene

• Insect and tick bite avoidance

• Personal safety

• Protection solaire

What vaccinations do I need for Somalia?

Vaccine Recommendations

Details of vaccination recommendations and requirements are provided below.

All travellers

Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine. Country-specific diphtheria recommendations are not provided here. Diphtheria tetanus and polio are combined in a single vaccine in the UK. Therefore, when a tetanus booster is recommended for travellers, diphtheria vaccine is also given. Should there be an outbreak of diphtheria in a country, diphtheria vaccination guidance will be provided. Those who may be at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their work, lifestyle choice, or certain underlying health problems should be up to date with additional recommended vaccines. See details on the selective immunisation programmes and additional vaccines for individuals with underlying medical conditions at the bottom of the 'Complete routine immunisation schedule' document and the individual chapters of the 'Green Book' Immunisation against infectious disease for further details.

Certificate requirements

There are no certificate requirements under International Health Regulations. There is a low potential for exposure to yellow fever in parts of this country.

Most travellers

The vaccines in this section are recommended for most travellers visiting this country. Information on these vaccines can be found by clicking on the blue arrow.

Hépatite A

Hepatitis A is a viral infection transmitted through contaminated food and water or by direct contact with an infectious person. Symptoms are often mild or absent in young children, but the disease can be more serious with advancing age. Recovery can vary from weeks to months. Following hepatitis A infection immunity is lifelong.

La prévention

All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Vaccination contre l'hépatite A

As hepatitis A vaccine is well tolerated and affords long-lasting protection, it is recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers.

Hepatitis A in brief

Tétanos

Tetanus is caused by a toxin released from Clostridium tetani bacteria and occurs worldwide. Tetanus bacteria are present in soil and manure and may be introduced through open wounds such as a puncture wound, burn or scratch.

La prévention

Travellers should thoroughly clean all wounds and seek medical attention for injuries such as animal bites/scratches, burns or wounds contaminated with soil.

Tetanus vaccination

Travellers should have completed a tetanus vaccination course according to the UK schedule. If travelling to a country or area where medical facilities may be limited, a booster dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended if the last dose was more than ten years ago even if five doses of vaccine have been given previously. Country-specific information on medical facilities may be found in the 'health' section of the FCDO foreign travel advice pages.

Tetanus in brief

Typhoïde

Typhoid is a bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated food and water. Previous typhoid illness may only partially protect against re-infection. Vaccination is recommended for most travellers, particularly travellers visiting friends and relatives, those in contact with an infected person, young children, frequent or long-stay travellers visiting areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor, and laboratory personnel who may handle the bacteria for their work.

La prévention

All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Vaccination contre la typhoïde

Oral and injectable typhoid vaccinations are available.

Typhoid in brief

Some travellers

The vaccines in this section are recommended for some travellers visiting this country. Information on when these vaccines should be considered can be found by clicking on the arrow.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes which bite mainly during daytime hours. It causes a flu-like illness and can cause severe joint and muscles pains which usually improve in 1–2 weeks but may persist for months or years. It is rarely fatal. There is a risk of chikungunya in this country. Information on current outbreaks, where available, will be reported on our outbreak surveillance database.

La prévention

Travellers should avoid mosquito bites, particularly during daytime hours.

Chikungunya vaccination

Vaccination may be considered for individuals aged 12 years of age and over who are: travelling to regions with a current chikungunya outbreak, long-term or frequent travellers to regions with an increased risk of chikungunya, exposed to the chikungunya virus through their work, such as laboratory staff working with the virus. Detailed advice about the use and contraindications of the available vaccines will be available in the green book chikungunya chapter in the coming months.

Chikungunya in brief

Cholera

Cholera is a bacterial infection transmitted by contaminated food and water. Cholera can cause severe watery diarrhoea although mild infections are common. Most travellers are at low risk.

La prévention

All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Cholera vaccination

This oral vaccine is recommended for those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk. This includes aid workers, those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to safe water and medical care, those for whom vaccination is considered potentially beneficial.

Cholera in brief

Dengue

Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes which mainly feed during daytime hours. It causes a flu-like illness, which can occasionally develop into a more serious life-threatening illness. Severe dengue is rare in travellers. The mosquitoes that spread dengue are more common in towns, cities and surrounding areas. There is a risk of dengue in this country. Information on current outbreaks, where available, will be reported on our outbreak surveillance database.

La prévention

Travellers should avoid mosquito bites, particularly during daytime hours.

Dengue vaccination

Vaccination can be considered for individuals aged 4 years of age and older who have had dengue infection in the past and who are: travelling to areas where there is a risk of dengue infection or areas with an ongoing outbreak of dengue, or are exposed to dengue virus through their work, such as laboratory staff working with the virus. Exceptionally, vaccination can be considered in those who have not had dengue in the past.

Dengue in brief

Hépatite B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection spread through blood, semen and vaginal fluids. This mostly occurs during sexual contact or as a result of blood-to-blood contact. This country is considered to have an intermediate or high prevalence of hepatitis B.

La prévention

Travellers should avoid contact with blood or body fluids. This includes: Avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse. Avoiding tattooing, piercing, public shaving, and acupuncture (unless sterile equipment is used). Not sharing needles or other injection equipment. Following universal precautions if working in a healthcare or other higher risk setting.

Hepatitis B vaccination

Vaccination could be considered for all travellers and is recommended for those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk.

Hepatitis B in brief

Polio

Polio is caused by one of three types of polio virus and is transmitted by contaminated food and water. Previous infection with one type of polio virus does not protect against other types of the virus.

La prévention

All travellers should take care with personal and food and water hygiene.

Vaccination contre la polio

All travellers should have completed a polio vaccination course according to the UK schedule. A booster dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is recommended for travellers to settings with extremely poor hygiene, or likely to be in close proximity with cases.

Polio in brief

Rage

Rabies is a viral infection which is usually transmitted following contact with the saliva of an infected animal most often via a bite, scratch or lick to an open wound or mucous membrane. The risk of exposure is increased by certain activities and length of stay. Children are at increased risk as they are less likely to avoid contact with animals and to report a bite, scratch or lick.

La prévention

Travellers should avoid contact with all animals. Rabies is preventable with prompt post-exposure management. Following a possible exposure, wounds should be thoroughly cleansed and an urgent local medical assessment sought, even if the wound appears trivial.

Vaccination contre la rage

A full course of pre-exposure vaccines simplifies and shortens the course of post-exposure treatment and removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin which is in short supply worldwide.

Rabies in brief

Tuberculose

TB is a bacterial infection most commonly affecting the lungs but can affect any part of the body. TB is curable but can be serious if not treated. The BCG vaccination helps to protect some people, particularly babies and young children who are at increased risk from TB. This country has reported an annual TB incidence of greater than or equal to 40 cases per 100,000 population at least once in the last five years.

La prévention

Travellers should avoid close contact with individuals known to have infectious pulmonary (lung) or laryngeal (throat) TB.

Tuberculosis (BCG) vaccination

BCG vaccine is recommended for those at increased risk of developing severe disease and/or of exposure to TB infection.

Tuberculosis in brief

COVID-19

What are the malaria risks in Somalia?

Malaria

Malaria is a serious illness caused by infection of red blood cells with a parasite called Plasmodium. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes which predominantly feed between dusk and dawn. Symptoms usually begin with a fever of 38°C (100°F) or more.

La prévention

Travellers should follow an ABCD guide to preventing malaria:

• Awareness of the risk – Risk depends on the specific location, season of travel, length of stay, activities and type of accommodation.

• Bite prevention – Travellers should take mosquito bite avoidance measures.

• Chemoprophylaxis – Travellers should take antimalarials if appropriate for the area.

• Diagnosis – Travellers who develop a fever of 38°C (100°F) or higher more than one week after being in a malaria risk area, or who develop any symptoms suggestive of malaria within a year of return should seek immediate medical care.

What are the malaria prevention recommendations?

There is a high risk of malaria in Somalia: atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine recommended.

Recommended antimalarials

The recommended antimalarials are listed below. If these are not suitable please seek further specialist advice.

• Atovaquone/Proguanil: Start one to two days before arrival in the malaria risk area. For adults, one tablet is taken every day, ideally at the same time of day for the duration of the time in a malaria risk area and daily for seven days after leaving the malaria risk area. Take with a fatty meal if possible.

• Doxycycline: Start one to two days before arrival in the malaria risk area. Adults and children over 12 years of age take 100mg daily, ideally at the same time of day for the duration of the time in a malaria risk area and daily for four weeks after leaving the malaria risk area. Take with food if possible; avoid taking this drug just before lying down.

• Mefloquine: This drug is taken weekly; adults take one 250mg tablet each week. Start two to three weeks before arrival in the malaria risk area and continue weekly until four weeks after leaving the malaria risk area.

Ressources

• Malaria in brief

• Malaria factsheet

• Insect and tick bite avoidance

• Children's antimalarial dose table

• Malaria prevention guidelines for travellers from the UK

What are the other risks in Somalia?

Other risks

There are some risks that are relevant to all travellers regardless of destination. These may include road traffic and other accidents, diseases transmitted by insects or ticks, diseases transmitted by contaminated food and water, or health issues related to the heat or cold.

Biting insects and ticks

Insect or tick bites can cause irritation and infections of the skin at the site of a bite. They can also spread certain diseases.

La prévention

All travellers should avoid insect and tick bites day and night.

Grippe

Seasonal influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract and spreads easily from person to person via respiratory droplets when coughing and sneezing. In healthy individuals, symptoms improve without treatment within two to seven days. Severe illness is more common in those aged 65 years or over, those under 2 years of age, or those who have underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for complications of influenza.

Outdoor air quality

Poor air quality is a significant public health problem in many parts of the world. Exposure to high levels of air pollution over short and longer time periods is linked to many health problems.

Schistosomiase

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection. Travellers may be exposed during activities such as wading, swimming, bathing or washing clothes in freshwater streams, rivers or lakes.

Infections sexuellement transmissibles

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a group of infections spread during sexual intercourse or by intimate contact. Risk is higher for travellers who have sex without a condom, have sex with new or casual partners, or engage in sex tourism.

Ressources

• Food and water hygiene

• Insect and tick bite avoidance

• Personal safety

• Protection solaire

Source and disclaimer

This travel health information is based on data supplied by NaTHNaC (the National Travel Health Network and Centre). All intellectual property rights in the data are owned by NaTHNaC. It must not be copied, reproduced, distributed, amended or offered for sale without NaTHNaC’s prior written consent.
Patient.info ensures that this information is reviewed and updated on at least a weekly basis. However, NaTHNaC’s data is accurate only as at the date it was prepared, and Patient.info is solely responsible for maintaining its accuracy and completeness after that date. NaTHNaC accepts no liability for the use of this data by Patient.info or its users.