Congo

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• The whole country is malarial, with an all-year-round transmission. Strains are highly resistant to chloroquine (zone 3).
• The HIV prevalence is preoccupying: 4,9% of the population between the ages of 15 and 49 is HIV-positive.
• There are episodic outbreaks of yellow fever.
• The main cases of mortality and morbidity in the country are malaria, diarrheas, tuberculosis and HIV.
• Outbreaks of hemorrhagic fevers, meningitis and cholera have been reported.
• The risk of trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) is high in savannas south of Niari and in Bouenza, Pool, Plateaux, Likouala, Sangha and Cuvette districts.
• Bilharziosis is present mainly in the Brazzaville area and in the south-west of the country.
• The Ebola virus is present mainly in the forests located between the Odzala park, and the Mambili and Likouala rivers. High-risk cities are Mbomo, Itoumbi and Kelle.
• There are cases of animal rabies in the country.
• Tuberculosis is frequent in the country.
• 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

• All travellers are required to present a certificate of immunization against yellow fever.
Systematically:
• Yellow fever: the vaccination is available for all children at least one year old.
• 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.
• 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.
• Recommended chemoprophylaxis against malaria: mefloquine (commercial name: Lariam) or doxycycline (commercial name: Doxypalu).

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

Brazzaville
• Centre Privé d'Urgences (CPU), Avenue de Commerce / Avenue Bas-Congo: phone + 242 20 875/876
• French Embassy medico-social center: phone + 242 81 54 73



Pointe-Noire
• C.S.S.I.E., 22 Avenue N'Gouedi: phone + 242 943 432/943 433, fax + 242 942 704
• Guenin Private Hospital: phone + 242 94 17 51, fax + 242 94 18 86

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Police: 17
• Firemen: 18
• Ambulances / urgences: 822 365/368

CLIMATE

• The country is located on the equateur thus the dominant climate is equatorial, hot and humid all year long.
• In Central Congo, there are abundant rains all year long and the temperature is rather stable around 26°C.
• In the north and the south of the country, there are two rain seasons (October-December and January-May) and a dry season.
• In mountainous areas, snowfalls are important; the climate is temperate (alpine) at an intermediate altitude.
• There is a small area of oceanic climate, at the mouth of the Congo river. Due to the Banguelo cold stream, temperatures are much lower and precipitations less important (80 cm per year on average).