Belarus

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• There are cases of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease in the country.
• Tuberculosis is frequent in the country.
• 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, 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

• 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 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.
• Tick-borne encephalitis: for stays in rural areas or for hikers. The immunization is available for children at least one year 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

Minsk
• Presidential Administration Hospital, 10 Krasnoarmeiskaia Street: phone + 375 227 82 92, + 375 227 44 66 ou + 375 227 01 31
• Dr Elena Jolnerovitch, Medical Diagnostic Centre, 10 Sémachko Street: phone + 375 270 20 30
• Emergency Hospital, Kizhevatova 58: phone + 375 172 27 76 21
• Lode Medical Clinic, 12 Kiseleva Street: phone + 375 172 84 89 21, fax + 375 172 31 31 60
• Minsk Maternity Hospital No. 2, 60 Belskogo Street: phone + 375 172 86 01 45

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 01
• Police: 02
• Ambulances: 03

CLIMATE

• The climate is continental, with a long and harsh winter; snow is present until March or April.
• Spring begins in May. Summer is mild and rainy, with occasional thunderstorms, but insolation remains important.
• Autumn begins in mid-September and temperatures drop quickly.
• When to go: between June and September.