Risk / Health Info for Niger

Make sure your shots are up to date before you go to Niger by making an appointment with Canadian Travel Clinics. Canadian Travel Clinics can recommend additional vaccinations that will keep you healthy when you are there, including hepatitis A, typhoidand cholera. These are unpleasant gastrointestinal illnesses spread by contaminated water and food. You can further reduce the risk of “travellers’ diarrhea” by making sure you drink commercially bottled water in Niger, including in your ice cubes, and sticking to foods you can peel or that have been cooked or boiled. Drinking tea is safe, if it has been made with boiling water.

Medical facilities in Niger are not up to Canadian standards. Your provincial or territorial health insurance will not cover you when you leave Canada, so get travel insurance before you go.

Because of the hot dry climate, dehydration is a risk to travellers visiting Niger.

Malaria in Niger

Malaria prophylaxis will be required for some parts of Niger at certain times of year. There is no malaria vaccine, but there are anti-malaria drugs that should be taken before, during and after travelling to certain at-risk countries. Speak with your healthcare provider six weeks before your trip, as not all prophylaxis regimes are appropriate for all regions and all individuals.

Schistosomiasis in Niger

The schistosomiasis parasite enters humans through the skin during contact with fresh water. To prevent infection, avoid swimming or paddling in lakes and streams in Niger. This condition is also known as bilharzia.