A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into Tanzania when arriving from countries where yellow fever is present.
Recommended Vaccinations & Medications
(Information obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tanzania)
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) – Transmission of the hepatitis A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; exposure to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested from contaminated water; or consumption of fruits, vegetables, or other uncooked foods that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling.
Hepatitis B – Recommended especially if you may be exposed to blood or body fluids (for example, healthcare workers), have sexual contact with the local population, or receive medical treatment. The hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children aged 11–12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
Malaria – Your risk of malaria may be high in all countries in East Africa, including cities. All travellers should take one of the following drugs (consult your doctor before making a decision):
- Atovaquone/proguanil
- Doxycycline
- Mefloquine, or
- Primaquine (in special circumstances)
Meningococcal (meningitis) – Recommended if you plan to visit countries in this region that experience epidemics of meningococcal disease between December and June.
Rabies – Pre-exposure vaccination is recommended if you may have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as during camping, hiking, cycling, or certain occupational activities.
Typhoid – Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated drinking water or food, or by consuming food or beverages prepared or handled by an infected person. Large outbreaks are most often linked to faecal contamination of water supplies or food sold by street vendors.
Also recommended, as needed: booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles, and a one-time polio vaccine booster for adults.
Precautions: Food & Waterborne Diseases
Ensure your food and drinking water are safe. Foodborne and waterborne diseases are the primary cause of illness in travellers. Travellers’ diarrhoea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout East Africa and can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhoea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis).
Do:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or, if your hands are not visibly soiled, use a waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitiser to remove potentially infectious material and help prevent disease transmission.
- In developing countries, drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated drinks in sealed cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If safe options are unavailable, learn how to purify water before drinking.
- Take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed. (Consult your healthcare provider for a prescription.)
- To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot, even on beaches.
- Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Do not:
- Eat food purchased from street vendors or food that is not thoroughly cooked, to reduce the risk of infection (e.g., hepatitis A and typhoid fever).
- Drink beverages with ice.
- Consume dairy products unless you are certain they have been pasteurised.
- Swim in fresh water, to avoid exposure to waterborne diseases such as schistosomiasis.
- Handle animals — especially monkeys, dogs, and cats — to avoid bites and serious diseases, including rabies and plague. Consider pre-exposure rabies vaccination if you may have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas.
- Share needles for tattoos, body piercing, or injections, to prevent infections such as HIV and hepatitis B.
- Visit poultry farms, bird markets, or other places where live poultry is raised or kept.
