Azerbaijan

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• There are sporadic cases of malaria, even if important disinsecting campaigns have been led between 1996 and 1999; the disease remains in some swamps, in the south (close to the Iran border) and on the shores of the Caspian sea. Transmissions occur mainly from April to October.
• Numerous cases of gastro-enteritis are reported among foreigners who do not take hygiene precautions.
• STDs and AIDS are on the rise, as well as multi-resistant cases of tuberculosis.
• There are cases of animal rabies in the country.
• Diarrheic diseases are common.

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, including to wash babies, brush your teeth, clean fruit and vegetables, cook or make tea.
• Avoid eating ice cream and sherbet.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked dishes, especially meat or fish. If possible, order hot dishes.
• Sanitary controls on meat and imported fresh products (from Russia, Turkey or Dubai) are not systematic. Be careful to check the use-by date when eating preserves. The cold chain is not always respected, especially in summer.
• Bring anti-diarrhea medication with you.
• Wash your hands carefully before each meal.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND MEDICATION

• No specific immunization is required from travelers entering the country.
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 the condition 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.
• 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

Baku
• Mediclub Bakou: phone + 994 497 09 11/12/13
• Centre Clinical Hospital, Parliament Ave. 76: phone + 994 492 10 92 (urgences 497 1111 ou 492 3131), fax + 994 492 41 31
• Turkish-American Medical Center, 41/47 Merdanov Gardashlari Street: phone + 994 12 973 784, fax + 994 12 941 823
• Western Medical, 66 Alibey Husseinzadeh Street: phone + 994 12 973 744

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 101
• Police: 102
• Ambulances: 103

CLIMATE

• Climate is temperate thanks to the influence of the Caspian sea and reliefs protect Azerbaijan from Siberian winds. Winters are cold (0°C in January, colder in mountainous areas) and summers mild (25 to 30°C).
• Precipitations are important in mountainous areas and in the Lenkoran region (humid subtropical climate); the rest of the country is dry.
• When to go: between May and September.