Risk / Health Info for Kazakhstan

Your shots should be up to date for a trip to Kazakhstan, including your rabies and measles shots. Protect yourself against bug bites, especially ticks, as they can carry Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever or tick-borne encephalitis. Your Canadian Travel Clinics adviser can give you advice on how to stay healthy in Kazakhstan.

In some parts of Kazakhstan, there may be radioactive or toxic chemical sites, particularly around the Semipalatinsk Test Site. Closely follow the advice of tour leaders if you go to one of these sites.

The few medical facilities in Kazakhstan often have poor hygiene standards and lack basic drugs and equipment. Your Canadian health coverage will not cover you when you travel, so before leaving for Kazakhstan consult your provincial or territorial health authority for more information.

Altitude in Kazakhstan

Parts of Kazakhstan are higher than 2,400m, and travellers planning to spend time at a high altitude should take steps to protect themselves against the potentially life-threatening acute mountain sickness. Your healthcare provider can help with this.

Tick-borne encephalitis in Kazakhstan

Tick-borne encephalitis can be contracted in the forested areas of Kazakhstan. If you will be in an affected area from late spring to early fall, whether for fun (camping, hiking or walking) or work (with forestry or agriculture), speak to your healthcare provider about vaccination and other measures you can take to avoid TBE and other tick-borne illnesses before travelling to the area.