Routine vaccines
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.
Most travelers
Most travelers get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting.
- Hepatitis A: CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Uganda, regardless of where you are eating or staying.
- Malaria: 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.
- Typhoid: You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Uganda. 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.
- Yellow Fever: Required if traveling from a country with risk of YFV transmission and ≥1 year of age.
Recommendations: Recommended for all travelers ≥9 months of age.
Note: Yellow fever vaccine availability in the United States is currently limited. If you need to be vaccinated before your trip, you may need to travel some distance and schedule your appointment well in advance. Find the clinic nearest you.
Some travelers
Find out what vaccines or medicine you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing e.t.c
- Cholera: CDC recommends this vaccine for adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission. Areas of active cholera transmission include the districts of Amudat (last case reported May 2018), Bulambuli, Hoima (last case reported May 2018), Kagadi (last case reported May 2018), Kampala, Kasese (last case reported January 2018), Kisoro (last case reported January 2018), Kween, Kyegegwa (last case reported May 2018), Mbale, and Tororo (last case reported June 2018) in Uganda (see map). Cholera is rare in travelers but can be severe. Certain factors may increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease (more information). Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also prevent cholera
- Hepatitis B: 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.
- Meningitis (Meningococcal disease): CDC recommends this vaccine if you plan to visit parts of Uganda located in the meningitis belt during the dry season (December–June), when the disease is most common.
- Rabies: Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in Uganda, 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 Uganda.
- 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.
Key
- 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
Note: Zika is a risk in Uganda. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. Therefore, pregnant women should not travel to Uganda. Partners of pregnant women and couples planning pregnancy should know the possible risks to pregnancy and take preventive steps
More health tips to consider include:
- 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
Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for the Uganda for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.
Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?
It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.
After your trip;
If you are not feeling well after your trip, 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.