Albania

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• Officially, rabies is not present in Albania; however, there are packs of wandering dogs in Tirana and all over the country. Remain prudent and take all the precautions necessary before entering the country, where you can not find any immunization against rabies.
• Cases of viral hepatitis are particularly frequent.
• There are cases of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease in wooded areas.
• Gastroenteritis cases are numerous in summertime.
• Diarrheic diseases are frequent.

FOOD SAFETY

• Gastric diseases are common among tourists who are not accustomed to local food or who do not take precautions.
• Do not drink tap water and favor bottled mineral water, without ice ; avoid eating ice cream and sherbet.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked dishes, especially meat or fish. If possible, order hot dishes.
• Bring anti-diarrhea medication with you.
• Wash your hands carefully before each meal.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND MEDICATION

• Travellers entering the country from an endemic area are required to present a certificate of immunization against yellow fever.
Systematically:
• Hepatitis A: the vaccination is available for children at least one year old. For persons who were born before 1945, who have spent their childhood in a developing country or who have had an icterus, it may prove useful to search previously for serous antibodies in order to avoid an unnecessary shot.
• Hepatitis B: the vaccination is available for children at least two months old.
• Diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis: get a booster shot before leaving if your last shot is more than ten years old.
Depending on the duration and conditions of the trip:
• Typhoid fever: if the stay is occurring in precarious hygiene condition. The immunization is available for children at least 2 years old.
• Rabies: recommended for long stays in isolation. The immunization should be given to children as soon as they are able to walk.
• Flu : during an epidemics, for all the persons to whom the immunization is usually recommended (older persons or people suffering from chronic diseases : diabetes, epilepsy, mucoviscidosis, respiratory failure, cardiac failure, immunodeficiency...).
• Tuberculosis : in case of a long stay, it is recommended to have children immunized against tuberculosis as soon as they reach the age of one month, and against mumps, measles and rubella when they reach the age of nine months.

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

• Tirana Hospital, Qendra spitalore universitare « Nene Tereza »: phone + 355 4 362 627 - 363 644

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 128
• Police: 129
• Ambulances: 127

CLIMATE

• Climate is mediterranean: the winter is mild and humid, the summer hot and dry.
• Central and Western Albania are very cold in summertime (up to 40°C) due to hot winds coming from the sea.
• Eastern and Northern Albania (montainous areas) are fresher in the summer and temperatures are low during the winter.
• When to go: in May, June or September.