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Africa Health Risks - Information & Advice » Common Diseases and Health Risks » Malaria and Yellow Fever Vaccinations Please keep in mind that you will have 24-hour field support from African Impact during your placement and will be under the supervision and care of our experienced African Impact volunteer managers and coordinators at each of your projects. They will be on-hand to give you sound advice for any health/medical situations that you may encounter. Furthermore, living in groups with your volunteer co-ordinator, eating healthily and taking the necessary precautions will reduce the risk of infection of most of the diseases and Africa health risks outlined below. Please note that this information serves only as a guideline and that you should consult your personal physician or pharmacist with regard to your pre-departure vaccinations. Illness and Disease There are numerous illness and diseases throughout Africa and many of them have similar symptoms. With most of the more serious diseases, vaccinations have been developed as a form of protection. Some vaccinations can have different side effects on different people, but if you are travelling to Africa you should always obtain specialist advice from your physician or travel clinic. Many countries have clinics that specialise in tropical diseases. The risk of contracting a number of the diseases can be greatly reduced if you are careful about where and what you eat and drink and who you come into direct contact with. Bear in mind that however careful you are you may still be susceptible to some form of stomach upset which can be caused simply by the change in diet or climate, but these usually clear up within a few days. Common Diseases & Health Risks in Africa Aids/HIV & Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Strict precautions should always be taken as Africa has the highest AIDS rate in the world. Hospital workers are aware of the dangers of using unsterilised needles and in a town hospital or clinic you are unlikely to be at risk. Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis) - Try not to swim in stagnant or still water pools, dams and low lying rivers. Use insect repellent before getting into the water and dry off properly. Bilharzia is curable. Cholera and Diarrhoea - Cholera is a public health concern in most African countries. It is a bacterial disease transmitted through contaminated water and food in poorer areas. Avoid ice, raw vegetables and drink only bottled water. Travellers diarrhea is also common but can be treated with over the counter medication. Hepatitis A & B - A viral disease transmitted by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food stuffs. Again, by avoiding raw vegetables and salad, uncooked or undercooked fish, and boiling or sterilising all drinking water will reduce the chances of contracting the disease.Hepatitis B is transmitted mainly through blood, body fluid and sexual contact. Typhoid - Advisable to have the vaccination before travelling. Typhoid is transmitted by infected humans and the bacterial infection is spread by contaminated food and water. Malaria & Yellow Fever Vaccinations Yellow Fever Vaccinations - Transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. If you are travelling to Africa it is advisable to have the yellow fever vaccinations. You will often be requested to produce your International Certificate of Vaccination as proof that you have had the yellow fever vaccinations.The current Yellow Fever vaccine lasts for 10 years. Malaria in Africa - Vaccinations - Malaria is the most widely spread disease in Africa and is easily preventable. You will need to take a course of prophylactic drugs before and after travelling to a malaria infected area(get the latest advice from your doctor/ pharmacist or a Tropical Diseases Hospital). Other ways to prevent malaria is to cover up between dusk and dawn, use mosquito repellent during the day and a mosquito net at night. Malaria can develop between 7 days and 7 months and symptoms include headaches, pain and flu-like aches. Malaria, HIV/AIDS & Health Risks in Africa Select a country from the list below for more information about malaria, HIV/AIDS and other health risks in each country: Botswana health & vaccinations Kenya health & vaccinations Lesotho health & vaccinations Malawi health & vaccinations Mozambique health & vaccinations Namibia health & vaccinations South Africa health & vaccinations Swaziland health & vaccinations Tanzania health & vaccinations Uganda health & vaccinations Zambia health & vaccinations Zimbabwe health & vaccinations Other useful information for volunteers: Visas and work permits in Africa What to bring Travel Insurance Is it safe in Africa? African Impact's volunteer projects in Africa: Read More - Volunteer Projects in Africa Read More - Volunteer Feedback Make enquiry - Volunteer projects Make enquiry - Africa travel           print this page | bookmark this page (CTRL-D) | send to a friend back to top

African Cheetah Rehabilitation African Lion Rehabilitation African Wildlife Photography and Conservation Education Assist in Rural Moblie Clinics in Kenya Big 5 Wildlife Experience Black Rhino & Elephant Conservation Cape Town Rural Pre-School and Building Project Clinic & Medical Assistance Dolphin & Turtle Research Elephant and Wildlife Monitoring and Conservation Education Elephant, Lion & Leopard Research in Botswana Football Development & Rural Community Work HIV/AIDS Medical & Clinic Assistance and Rural Community Work HIV/AIDS Orphans, Work in Hospitals & Slums in Kenya Lion Conservation & Community Education Orphan Day Care & HIV/AIDS Education Rural Pre-School, Orphan Care and Teaching English Project Rural Schools- Teaching and Work Tanzania, Zanzibar Island Rural Teaching Project Teaching & Community Support