Iraq

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• The whole country is malarial and the risk is particularly high in northern Iraq; strains are not resistant to chloroquine (zone 1).
• The country has been hit by the avian flu epizootic and a few cases of human contamination have been reported.
• Health conditions are very precarious and diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, through food or water are numerous.
• Tuberculosis is frequent in the country.
• Cholera outbreaks may occur at any time in the country. Cases have been reported in 2007 in Kurdistan and around Kirkuk.
• There are cases of animal rabies in the country.
• Iraq's current political situation does not allow us to have updated data on all sanitary risks linked to that destination.

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

• 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 the condition 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: chloroquine (commercial name: Nivaquine).

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

Baghdad
• Iamat Center: phone + 964 1 542 1505

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• No emergency services

CLIMATE

• Iraq's climate is mostly desert.
• Summers last from May to September, and are extremely dry and hot, with temperatures up to 50°C.
• Winters last from December to February and are mild and sometimes rainy, with temperatures ranging from 5 to 20°C.
• The weather is slightly hotter and more humid in the south.
• When to go: April-June or September-November.