Colombia: Immunisations and malaria advice

You must discuss your own particular needs and contraindications to vaccines or tablets with your doctor or practice nurse. Advice can change so check again for future visits.
 
Ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including repatriation. The 'T7' leaflet (from Post Offices) gives details of health care agreements between countries. The completed form must be submitted about 6 weeks before you plan to leave.

Immunisations

• Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including vaccines given to special groups because of risk exposure or complications (e.g. hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly).

• Courses or boosters usually advised: tetanus; hepatitis A; yellow fever.

• Vaccines sometimes advised: typhoid; rabies; hepatitis B; tuberculosis; diphtheria; cholera.

• No vaccine certificate required.

• Vaccination is recommended for travellers who may visit the following areas considered to be endemic for yellow fever: middle valley of the Magdalena river, eastern and western foothills of the Cordillera Oriental from the frontier with Ecuador to that with Venezuela, Uraba, foothills of the Sierra Nevada, eastern plains (Orinoquia) and Amazonia.

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

• Tetanus is contracted through dirty cuts and scratches. This is a serious infection of the nervous system.

• Typhoid and hepatitis A are spread through contaminated food and water. Typhoid causes septicaemia and hepatitis A causes liver inflammation and jaundice. In risk areas you should be immunised if good hygiene is impossible.

• Cholera is spread through contaminated water and food. More common during floods and rainy seasons. Those unable to take effective precautions, for example, during wars and when working in refugee camps or slums may consider vaccination.

• Tuberculosis is most commonly transmitted via droplet infection. Those going to countries where it is common, especially those mixing closely with the local population and those at occupational risk, e.g. health care workers, should ensure that they have previously been immunised. Check with your doctor or nurse.

• Diphtheria is also spread by droplet infection through close personal contact. Vaccination is advised if close contact with locals in risk areas is likely.

• Yellow fever is spread by mosquito bites. It is a serious often fatal illness. Vaccination is recommended for those who travel into risk areas. View yellow fever risk areas.

• Hepatitis B is spread through infected blood, contaminated needles and sexual intercourse, It affects the liver, causes jaundice and occasionally liver failure. Those visiting high risk areas for long periods or at social or occupational risk should be immunised.

• Rabies is spread through bites or licks on broken skin from an infected animal. It is always fatal. Vaccination is advised for those going to risk areas that will be remote from a reliable source of vaccine. Even when pre-exposure vaccines have been received urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal bite.

Malaria

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.

Malaria precautions

• There is a substantial risk throughout the year in the inland rain forest parts of the Amazon basin, along the border with Panama and along the Pacific coast.

• Transmission intensity varies but the highest risk in the Amazonas, Antoquia, Arauca, Chocó, Córdoba, Guaviare, Meta, Nariño, Putumayo, Valle del Cauca and Vichada 'departments'.

• The risk is minimal in and around the capital Bogota and in other areas above 800 metres but may be present in the mountain valleys (go to Malaria Map).

• Malaria precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.

• Check with your doctor or nurse about suitable antimalarial tablets.

• Atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine is usually recommended for those visiting risk areas.

• If you have been travelling in a malarious area and develop a fever seek medical attention promptly. Remember malaria can develop even up to one year after exposure.

• If travelling to high risk malarious areas, remote from medical facilities, carrying emergency malaria standby treatment may be considered.

This map is only intended as a guide since mosquitoes do not respect boundaries and the risk areas shown may not be exact. Substantial malaria risk is shaded in dark red - becoming a lighter red where the risk is minimal.

The above advice is appropriate for the majority of travelers to this country. If you are at all unsure as to what measures are suitable for you, (eg if you are pregnant, or are suffering from a condition requiring special medication), it is recommended that you talk to your health advisor. This page is produced by the Scottish Centre for infection and Environmental Health.