Qatar

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• Due to high quantities of dust (both from desert sands and from construction sites in Doha), travellers with respiratory diseases or sensitive eyes may experiment discomfort.
• There is a risk of leishmaniosis in the country (skin and mucous membranes ulcer, vital organs infection). This disease is transmitted by sandflies, which are mainly active at night.
• Protect yourself carefully from scorpions.
• There are cases of animal rabies in the country.
• Diarrheic diseases are very 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

• 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.
• 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

Doha
• Al Ahli Hospital, Ahmed Bin Ali Street, Wadi Al Sail: phone + 974 489 8426, fax + 974 489 8989
• Al-Emadi Hospital, Al Hilal West: phone + 974 466 6009, fax + 974 467 8340
• American Hospital Doha, C - Ring Road, Al-Muntazah: phone + 974 442 1999, fax + 974 424 4888

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 999
• Ambulances: 999
• Police: 999

CLIMATE

• The climate is desertic. In the summer, from May to October, the atmosphere is blistering (46°C) with a high rate of humidity. The chamal, a violent and dusty wind, provokes sandstorms.
• Winters, from November to April, are milder, with chilly nights and small rainfalls.
• When to go: between November and April.