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HEALTH INFORMATION

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.

All travelers

You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel.

 

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

 

Health recommendation: Yellow fever is a risk in Cameroon, so CDC recommends this vaccine for all travelers who are 9 months of age or older.

Country entry requirement: The government of Cameroon requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for all travelers, except infants.

See more information on yellow fever recommendations and requirements for Cameroon.

 

Most travelers

Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting.

You may need a polio vaccine before your trip to Cameroon.

  • If you were vaccinated against polio as a child but have never had an additional dose as an adult, you should get an additional dose. Adults need only one additional dose in their lives.
  • If you were not completely vaccinated as a child or do not know your vaccination status, talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated.

If visiting Cameroon with children, it is especially important to make sure they are up-to-date on their routine polio vaccinations.

 

CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Cameroon, regardless of where you are eating or staying.

 

You will need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you, and also talk to you about other steps you can take to prevent malaria. See more detailed information about malaria in Cameroon.

 

You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Cameroon. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.

 

Some travelers

Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US.

You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.

 

Cameroon is part of the “meningitis belt” of sub-Saharan Africa (see map). CDC recommends this vaccine if you plan to visit Cameroon during the dry season (December–June), when the disease is most common.

 

Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in Cameroon, so CDC recommends this vaccine for the following groups:

  • Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities (such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving) that put them at risk for animal bites.
  • People who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers).
  • People who are taking long trips or moving to Cameroon
  • Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck.
 

 

  • Get vaccinated
  • Take antimalarial meds
  • Eat and drink safely
  • Prevent bug bites
  • Keep away from animals
  • Reduce your exposure to germs
  • Avoid sharing body fluids
  • Avoid non-sterile medical or cosmetic equipment

 

Stay Healthy and Safe

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Cameroon, so your behaviors are important.

  • Eat and drink safely
  • Prevent bug bites
  • Stay safe outdoors
  • Keep away from animals
  • Reduce your exposure to germs
  • Avoid sharing body fluids
  • Know how to get medical care while traveling
  • Select safe transportation
  • Maintain personal security
  • Healthy Travel Packing List

Travel Health Notices

Be aware of current health issues in Cameroon. Learn how to protect yourself.

Alert Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions

Polio in Cameroon: As of January 31, 2014, three cases of polio have been reported in Cameroon. There were also four cases reported in 2013. This outbreak of polio is the first reported in Cameroon since 2009. (Updated April 17, 2014)

After Your Trip

If you are not feeling well after your trip, any cold or flu symptoms, you may need to see a doctor.  Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history.