Colombia

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• All rural areas below 1 800 meters of altitude are infected with malaria, but the disease remains rare in urban areas. Strains are highly resistant to chloroquine in Amazonia (zone 3) and mildly resistant elsewhere (zone 2).
• Dengue is endemic in the country, even in urban areas.
• Yellow fever is endemic in the Magdalena valley, the Cordillera Oriental, the Uraba region, the Orinoquia, the Amazonia and the Sierra Nevada foothills.
• At least one lethal case of Hantavirus has been reported in the north-west of the country, in Necocli (Uraba), in March 2006. This disease, deadly in 50% of the cases, is transmitted exclusively through contact with saliva, urine or feces of infected rodents, which can infect water or food.
• Tuberculosis is frequent in the country.
• There are cases of animal rabies in the country (1 case of humain rabies in 2003).
• 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 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.
• Travelers visiting Atlantic and Pacific coastal areas as well as the department of Guajira (Venezuelian border) are advised to get immunized against yellow fever at least 10 days before arrival. Health authorities also advise travelers to get vaccinated against measles.



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.
• Neisseria meningitidis meningitis: for long stays or in case of close contacts with local population in an epidemic area. The immunization is available for children at least 2 years old.
• Recommended chemoprophylaxis against malaria: chloroquine and proguanil (commercial name: Savarine) or proguanil and atovaquone (commercial name : Malarone); for a trip to Amazonia, mefloquine (commercial name: Lariam) or doxycycline (commercial name: Doxypalu).

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

Bogota
• Clinica del Country, Carrera 16 N. 82-57: phone + 57 1 530 04 70 / 12 70
• Clinica Marly, Calle 50 N. 9-67: phone + 57 1 343 66 00
• Clinica Fundacion Santa fe de Bogota, Calle 116 N. 9-02: phone + 57 1 669 3066



Cali
• Clinica Fundacion Valle de Lili, Carrera 98 N. 18-49: phone + 57 2 331 7474, fax + 57 1 331 7499
• Clinica Centri Imbanco, Carrera 38 N. 5A-100: phone + 57 2 558 8355, fax + 57 2 558 5783
• Clinica De Occidente, Calle 18 nro 534: phone + 57 2 660 3000



Medellin
• Clinica Las Americas, Diagonal 75 B-2 A-80: phone + 57 4 342 1010, fax + 57 4 341 2946
• Clinica Medellin, Sede el Poblado, Carrera 7 N. 39-290: phone + 57 4 311 2800, fax + 57 4 312 4930
• Clinica Soma, Calle 51 Nr 45-93: phone + 57 4 251 0555



Cartagena
• Hospital Bocagrande, Calle 5ta C/Carrera 6ta, Barrio Castillogrande: phone + 57 5 665 4380

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Ambulances: 132 (Red Cross) / Trasmedica: (57 1)614 68 38
• Firemen: 112
• Police: 112

CLIMATE

• Close to the equator, Colombia has very stable temperatures all year long.
• The dry and the rain seasons vary according to the regions. Generally, Colombia is rainy in April, May, October and November.
• The climate is tropical humid on the Caribbean coast and in Amazonia, desertic in Guajija and cold in all areas above 3 000 meters.
• When to go: between December and March or June and September.