Madagascar: Tourist Healh And Safety Guide

When travelling to Madagascar, take adequate precautions against malaria, rabies, typhoid and yellow fever. The risk of malaria, particularly of the virulent falciparum malaria exists all year, across the country and is endemic to coastal areas. All water should be regarded as being potentially high risk- only drink bottled water or use water purification tablets. Fruits and salads should be avoided unless you have washed it in bottled water. The other all-pervasive threat is from bilharzias, though it can be easily avoided by not swimming in pools, ponds, streams and rivers. Hepatitis A, B, and E are endemic and precautions are advised. Dysenteries, diarrhoeal diseases and many viral diseases including severe haemorrhagic fevers have also been reported.

Health insurance is strongly recommended and should always cover for emergency repatriation or medical evacuation. Private and public healthcare in Madagascar is of a limited nature- the services in the cities are all right but tend towards the primitive in smaller places.

Safety first is the byword while travelling in Madagascar. Thieves and pickpockets abound and minor incidents are common. A word of caution for those who would like to take off on their own, do not walk alone in the evening after dark, as robbery is a real possibility.