Syria Health

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming within six days from infected areas.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to the Syrian Arab Republic. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness; see the Health appendix.

3: Vaccination against typhoid is advised.

4: Malaria risk, exclusively in the benign vivax form, exists along the northern border, especially in the northeast of the country, from May through October.

Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated and relatively safe. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns is likely to be contaminated and sterilisation is considered essential. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Hepatitis A is common and Hepatitis B is endemic. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Visceral leishmaniasis occurs in the northwest.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Health insurance is recommended. There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK. There are about 200 hospitals and 16,000 doctors; basic medical facilities exist in main cities but there are few outside them. Medical care is provided free of charge to those who cannot afford to pay. For more information, see the Health appendix.