Equatorial Guinea

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• Except altitude areas, malaria affects the whole country. Strains are highly resistant to chloroquine (zone 3).
• Yellow fever is endemic.
• AIDS is highly prevalent: it is estimated that 7,2% of the population is HIV-positive.
• 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

• Travellers entering the country from an endemic area are required to present a certificate of immunization against yellow fever.
Systematically:
• Yellow fever: available for children at least 6 months 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

Malabo
• General Hospital: phone + 240 09 20 41

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Police (emergency): 09 34 69 (Malabo) or 08 15 94 (Bata)
• Police: + 240 09 27 79 (Malabo)

CLIMATE

• The climate is equatorial, hot and wet (pluviometry ranges between 1,7 and 4 meters).
• It rains a lot on the coast. The rainy season goes from May to October in Bioko Island (Malabo).
• The "tornado", a hot and dry wind, blows from November to March.
• The temperature of the sea remains nice all year long in Equatorial Guinea.
• When to go: between June and September on the continent, between November and March on Bioko Island.