Risk / Health Info for Malawi

Do I need vaccinations for Malawi?

If you want to ask, ‘What vaccines do I need for Malawi?’, talk with a healthcare adviser at Canadian Travel Clinics. Your healthcare adviser at Canadian Travel Clinics can help you make sure your regular shots are up to date before you go to Malawi. You should also consider vaccinations to prevent hepatitis A and typhoid to help you avoid these gastrointestinal illnesses caused by contaminated food and water. Avoid other causes of “travellers’ diarrhea” by making sure you drink commercially bottled water in Malawi, and by sticking to foods you can peel or that have been cooked or boiled. Wash your hands frequently.

Malawi is in the African meningitis belt so meningococcal meningitis shots are recommended, especially for visits between December and June. Meningococcal meningitis is spread person-to-person like a flu or cold, so practise good cough and sneeze etiquette by washing your hands frequently and covering your mouth and nose with your arm when you cough or sneeze.

Which travellers need a hepatitis B vaccine?

Consider a hepatitis B vaccination before travelling to Malawi If you are a healthcare worker or plan to have a surgical procedure, tattoo or piercing in Malawi. Hep B is spread by contact with blood and body fluid, so children can catch it through cuts and grazes. It is also spread by unprotected sex or by unsterilized needles.

What other health risks occur in Malawi?

One in ten adults in Malawi is living with HIV, so you should take precautions to avoid exposure.

Altitude in Malawi

Parts of Malawi 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.

Malaria in Malawi

Malaria prophylaxis will be required for some parts of Malawi 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 Malawi

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 Malawi. This condition is also known as bilharzia.