Morocco: Travel Vaccines & Health Advice - General Practitioners Ringwood | Warrandyte Road Clinic (2024)

Hepatitis A vaccine

Highly recommended. Hepatitis A is a viral disease that affects the liver. You can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in this country, regardless of where you are eating or staying.

Immunisation is the best protection against hepatitis A infection and is recommended for travel to this area. It involves either 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine, or 3 doses of the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines given as a combination.

Typhoid vaccine

Recommended for most travellers. You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.

Safe food and water practices are the basis of prevention, but vaccination is also recommended for travel to this area. Immunity post-vaccination lasts for 2-3 years.

You should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria.

The risk of malaria is low in Morocco (including Western Sahara), especially in areas frequented by tourists. Medications to prevent malaria are generally not recommended for travellers, but you should take care to avoid insect bites and see your doctor if you develop a flu-like illness after your trip.

Malaria is present from May-Oct in rural areas of Chefchaouen province; no risk in Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech and Fès.

Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in this country, but it is not a major risk to most travellers. The vaccine is only recommended for these groups:

• Travellers involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put them at risk for animal bites (such as adventure travel and caving).
• 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 remote areas

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip, such as:

• measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine
• diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine
• varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
• influenza vaccine

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by a parasite transmitted by sand flies. Roughly 10 million people in the world are currently infected. Its most serious form is known as kala-azar, which is fatal in 95% of cases.

You can reduce your risk of catching leishmaniasis by sleeping under nets treated with insecticide. Other measures include spraying insecticides to kill sandflies.

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is a common, serious infection caused by a parasite found in rivers, streams and lakes in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and South America. The parasite infects people by penetrating their skin then developing in the person’s blood stream.

No vaccine is available. To avoid bilharzia:

• avoid paddling, swimming and washing infresh water–only swim in the sea or chlorinated swimming pools
• take waterproof trousers and boots with you if there’s a chance you’ll need to cross a stream or river
• boil or filter water before drinking– as the parasites could burrow into your lips or mouth if you drink contaminated water
• avoidmedicines sold locally that areadvertised to treat or prevent schistosomiasis–theseare ofteneither fake, substandard, ineffective or not given at the correct dosage
• don’t relyon assurances from hotels, tourist boards or similar that a particular stretch of water is safe – there have been reports ofsome organisations downplaying the risks

Traveller’s diarrhoea affects roughly 20-50% of overseas travellers. It is caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. The bacteria that trigger the illness may appear harmless to the local population, usually because they have developed immunity to them. Symptoms include abdominal bloating, cramps, nausea, fevers and diarrhoea.

Tips to prevent traveller’s diarrhoea:

• Avoid contaminated foods such as raw or peeled vegetables, undercooked meats, unpasteurised dairy products and food from street vendors.
• Avoid drinking or brushing your teeth with tap water
• Buy bottled water to drink
• Boil tap water for at least 5 minutes before drinking it
• Avoid drinks that contain ice
• Avoid using tap water to wash your fruit and vegetables
• Wash your hands and eat at reputable restaurants.

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis can damage a person’s lungs or other parts of the body and cause serious illness.

• Avoid exposure to people who have active tuberculosis.
• Only consume pasteurized milk products.
• Travellers at higher risk should be tested for tuberculosis upon their return home.
• There is a vaccine available which confers partial protection. Speak to your doctor to determine if this is recommended.