Lithuania

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• Isolated cases of rabies have been reported over the last years.
• Several cases of tick-borne encephalitis have been identified in Lithuania, as in the rest of Central Europ (Austria and Southern Germany included). There are also cases of Lyme disease (in rural areas).

FOOD SAFETY

• Since water pipes may contain heavy metals, particularly in older neighborhoods, it is recommended to drink bottled water.

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

Vilnius
• Baltic-American Medical & Surgical Clinic, 124 Antakalnio St.: phone + 370 2 342 020, fax + 370 2 767 942
• JSC SK Impeks Medical Diagnostics Centre, V.Grybo g. 32/10: phone + 370 5 270 91 20, fax + 370 5 270 91 27
• Med General Private Clinic, Gedimino pr. 1A-19: phone + 370 2 613 534, + 370 2 613 537

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 01
• Police: 02
• Medical emergencies: 03
• European emergency number: 112

CLIMATE

• Climate is continental in inland Lithuania, but attenuated on the coasts thanks to the influence of the Baltic sea.
• Summers are relatively hot, winters are cold, sometimes very cold (temperatures can get as low as -30°C some days).
• Rains are more important in volume in summertime, but are more frequent in the winter.
• Snowfalls may last 3 or 4 months; when the snow melts in spring, the country becomes muddy.
• When to go: between June and September.