Yellow fever Vaccination requirements for African Safari – Uganda and Rwanda safari vaccinations
Yellow fever vaccination requirements for African safari – Uganda is one of the African countries where a yellow fever vaccination certificate is a major requirement from travellers in order to allow them to enter and stay in the country. Regardless of how long you are going to stay in the country, you must have a certificate or card that shows that you are vaccinated against yellow fever when you arrive at the Airport or any border to Uganda. However, there are some categories of people that are exempted from this requirement for one reason or the other and they should have medical letters. From the time there was an outbreak of yellow fever in Angola, most African countries have made it one of the major requirements travellers must present along with other requirements like passport when they are being checked in into the country.
If a traveller has reached at the entry point without the certificate or medical form, they are vaccinated at a costly price and then allowed to enter the country but this you remain prone to the virus for a period of ten days and this is the reason why it is advisable to get the vaccine prior to your travel.
Yellow Fever outbreak in Uganda
Yellow fever is a virus commonly found in tropics and subtropics of Africa and is spread by infected mosquitoes from one person to another. The symptoms and signs of the disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, jaundice and fatigue. People that have infected by the virus and show serious symptoms die in a period of about 10 days.
On 24 January, it was confirmed that there was an outbreak of yellow fever in the northern part of Uganda. Two of them were traders dealing in timber and are said to have got the virus from South Sudan and died in Uganda in Moyo hospital. The third was also a male trader dealing in milk and was based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda’s World Health Organisation Representative said that the most effective way to protect against the disease is by acquiring the yellow fever vaccine. He further said that the disease has no cure but this vaccine protects against it a 100%.
Trained medical workers from the Ministry of Health have been vaccinating the locals around the country and this will continue on different organized schedules.
Transmission of Yellow Fever
There are three cycles of yellow fever transmission;
- Jungle (sylvatic)
- Intermediate (savannah)
- Urban
Transmission of the jungle cycle happens between non-humans that is from animals especially primates to mosquitoes in the forest canopy. Mosquitoes will then transmit it to the people living around the jungles; it could be those working there or even those just visiting the jungle.
The Intermediate cycle happens when the virus is from mosquitoes to humans or from monkeys to humans or from humans to humans through mosquitoes.
The urban cycle of transmission involves a species of mosquito known as Aedes Aegypti. The mosquitoes transmit it from infected humans who transferred from the jungle or savannah to the urban areas.
When tourists come to Uganda for safaris, they are advised not to reach any areas that are affected with yellow fever. Uganda is also one of the countries that are fast and best at fighting such diseases like yellow fever, Marburg, Ebola, Malaria among others.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirement to Uganda
Since Uganda is among countries in the yellow fever zone, the yellow fever vaccination certificate from WHO is a requirement that if you do not have, you will not be allowed to enter the country. If you do not have the card or certificate, you will receive the vaccination at the Airport on arrival and then proceed with the journey. The vaccine at this point costs roughly USD40 and a card indicating that you are vaccinated will be issued. It is however highly urged that you get the vaccination early enough before your safari starts, at least 10 days before travel.
Exemption of Yellow Fever Vaccination
There are specific categories of people that are exempted from getting the vaccines of yellow fever. These include; babies below the one year, pregnant women and people with HIV/AIDS with a CD4 count that is below 200. People above the age of 60 years are also allowed to travel without the cards. Those that get health issues when vaccinated for example those that are allergic to egg proteins may get skin rashes and they are therefore advised to acquire medical letters that allow them to travel without yellow fever vaccination certificates.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirement when traveling to Rwanda
Even though Rwanda is located near Uganda, her requirements in the case of yellow fever immunization are not the same. Travellers coming from countries that are not endemic to yellow fever are allowed to enter without vaccination cards and those from and passing via yellow fever endemic countries such as Uganda, Kenya and those from South America must have the vaccination certificates.
Countries which are endemic to Yellow Fever
These are areas with risk of yellow fever and vaccination against the disease is recommended to people who live there and to those who want to travel to those countries. These countries include; Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Togo, Uganda And Venezuela.
Importance of the Yellow Fever Vaccine
Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease that is spread by infected mosquitoes as earlier said. When you are vaccinated against yellow fever, your body produces antibiotics against the virus. The vaccine is safe and highly effective. It gives the body immunity against the virus in 10 days and it protects for for life.
Other precautions to take to prevent mosquito bites
Use insect repellent on the body and clothes. One of the good products of insect repellent is RID and others.
- Wear long clothes; long sleeved shirts and long trousers
- Take low sugar amounts for high sugars attract mosquitoes
- Wear clothes with dull colours
- Always sleep under mosquito nets
- Use insect killers like doom in the houses and rooms
In conclusion, as you prepare to travel for safari, find out the requirements you need to travel to different countries and if the yellow fever vaccination certificate is one of them, please have your vaccination early and carry the card for proof.
Uganda is one of the African countries where a yellow fever vaccination certificate is a major requirement from travellers in order to allow them to enter and stay in the country. Regardless of how long you are going to stay in the country, you must have a certificate or card that shows that you are vaccinated against yellow fever when you arrive at the airport or any border to Uganda. However, there are some categories of people that are exempted from this requirement for one reason or the other and they should have medical letters. From the time there was an outbreak of yellow fever in Angola, most African countries have made it one of the major requirements travellers must present along with other requirements like passport when they are being checked in into the country.
If a traveller has reached at the entry point without the certificate or medical form, they are vaccinated at a costly price and then allowed to enter the country but this you remain prone to the virus for a period of ten days and this is the reason why it is advisable to get the vaccine prior to your travel.
Contact Great Adventure Safaris for more information about the Yellow Fever Vaccination requirements and any other essentials as per your planned safari, and our managers will be ready to revert to you at any time.