Barbados

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• There is no malaria-affected area in the country.
• Cases of dengue fever have been reported.
• 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, 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 thoroughly 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.
• 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

Saint Michael
• BayView Hospital, St Pauls Avenue, Bayville,BB 14021: phone + 1 246 436 5446, fax + 1 246 429 3081
• Black Rock Polyclinic, Black Rock: phone + 1 246 425 6950
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Martinsdales Road: phone + 1 246 436 6450, fax + 1 246 429 5374

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 311
• Police: 211
• Ambulances: 511

CLIMATE

• The climate is tropical, with a dry season which goes from November to May and a rainy season from June to October.
• Average temperatures range between 25 and 35°C, with a high insolation.
• When to go: between December and April.