Risk / Health Info for Kenya

Global Travel Clinics can help you to organise all the vaccines you need for travel in East Africa. Because cholera occurs in Kenya, stick to bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. A vaccine for cholera is available and you should consider getting it before you travel. Typhoid and hepatitis A are two other GI illnesses for which there are vaccines. You can further protect yourself from stomach upsets by drinking only boiled or bottled water.

Some groups of travellers should consider whether they need to get a hepatitis B vaccine before going to Kenya. These include children, frequent and long-stay travellers as well as those who will be working in a healthcare setting. Hep B can be picked up through recreational intravenous drug use and unprotected sex. Another infection route is medical or cosmetic procedures.

Kenya is in the African meningitis belt so think about whether you should get a meningococcal meningitis vaccine, particularly if you are travelling during the dry season (December to June). The bacteria that causes meningococcal meningitis is spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets.

Can I get medical treatment in Kenya?

Healthcare in Kenya is pretty good. Ensure your travel insurance is up to date as you will have to pay for any care you receive.

The emergency number in Kenya is 999.

Altitude in Kenya

Parts of Kenya are higher than 2,400m, and travellers planning to spend time at a high altitude should take steps to protect themselves against the potentially life-threatening acute mountain sickness. Your healthcare provider can help with this.

Dengue fever in Kenya

There have been cases of the mosquito-borne virus dengue fever in Kenya. Dengue fever is also known as breakbone fever because of the severe bone, joint and muscular pains it causes, in addition to flu-like fever and headache. There is no vaccine for dengue fever. Avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents (50% DEET) and by wearing protective clothing. Sleeping with mosquito nets is also recommended.

Malaria in Kenya

Malaria prophylaxis will be required for some parts of Kenya at certain times of year. There is no malaria vaccine, but there are anti-malaria drugs that should be taken before, during and after travelling to certain at-risk countries. Speak with your healthcare provider six weeks before your trip, as not all prophylaxis regimes are appropriate for all regions and all individuals.

Schistosomiasis in Kenya

The schistosomiasis parasite enters humans through the skin during contact with fresh water. To prevent infection, avoid swimming or paddling in lakes and streams in Kenya. This condition is also known as bilharzia.