Iraq

Country fact file

General Information

The information on these pages should be used to research health risks and to inform the pre-travel consultation. Travellers should check the Foreign Office travel advice page which provides information on travel entry requirements in addition to safety and security advice. Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel. However, even if time is short, an appointment is still worthwhile. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities. For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended. All travellers should ensure they have adequate travel health insurance. A list of useful resources including advice on how to reduce the risk of certain health problems is available below.

Resources

• Food and water hygiene

• Insect and tick bite avoidance

• Personal safety

• Sun protection

What vaccinations do I need for Iraq?

Details of vaccination recommendations and requirements are provided below.

All travellers

Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include, for example, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine. Country-specific diphtheria recommendations are not provided here. Diphtheria tetanus and polio are combined in a single vaccine in the UK. Therefore, when a tetanus booster is recommended for travellers, diphtheria vaccine is also given. Should there be an outbreak of diphtheria in a country, diphtheria vaccination guidance will be provided. Those who may be at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their work, lifestyle choice, or certain underlying health problems should be up to date with additional recommended vaccines. See details on the selective immunisation programmes and additional vaccines for individuals with underlying medical conditions at the bottom of the 'Complete routine immunisation schedule' document and the individual chapters of the 'Green Book' Immunisation against infectious disease for further details.

Certificate requirements

There are no certificate requirements under International Health Regulations.

Most travellers

The vaccines in this section are recommended for most travellers visiting this country. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral infection transmitted through contaminated food and water or by direct contact with an infectious person. Symptoms are often mild or absent in young children, but the disease can be more serious with advancing age. Recovery can vary from weeks to months. Following hepatitis A infection immunity is lifelong.

Prevention

All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Hepatitis A vaccination

As hepatitis A vaccine is well tolerated and affords long-lasting protection, it is recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers.

Hepatitis A in brief

Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by a toxin released from Clostridium tetani bacteria and occurs worldwide. Tetanus bacteria are present in soil and manure and may be introduced through open wounds such as a puncture wound, burn or scratch.

Prevention

Travellers should thoroughly clean all wounds and seek medical attention for injuries such as animal bites/scratches, burns or wounds contaminated with soil.

Tetanus vaccination

Travellers should have completed a tetanus vaccination course according to the UK schedule. If travelling to a country or area where medical facilities may be limited, a booster dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended if the last dose was more than ten years ago even if five doses of vaccine have been given previously. Country-specific information on medical facilities may be found in the 'health' section of the FCDO foreign travel advice pages.

Tetanus in brief

Typhoid

Typhoid is a bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated food and water. Previous typhoid illness may only partially protect against re-infection. Vaccination is recommended for most travellers, particularly travellers visiting friends and relatives, those in contact with an infected person, young children, frequent or long-stay travellers visiting areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor, and laboratory personnel who may handle the bacteria for their work.

Prevention

All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Typhoid vaccination

Oral and injectable typhoid vaccinations are available.

Typhoid in brief

Some travellers

The vaccines in this section are recommended for some travellers visiting this country. Information on when these vaccines should be considered can be found by clicking on the arrow. Vaccines are listed alphabetically.

Cholera

Cholera is a bacterial infection transmitted by contaminated food and water. Cholera can cause severe watery diarrhoea although mild infections are common. Most travellers are at low risk.

Prevention

All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.

Cholera vaccination

This oral vaccine is recommended for those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, including aid workers, those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to safe water and medical care, and those for whom vaccination is considered potentially beneficial.

Cholera in brief

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection spread through blood, semen and vaginal fluids. This mostly occurs during sexual contact or as a result of blood-to-blood contact (for example from contaminated equipment during medical and dental procedures, tattooing or body piercing procedures, and sharing of intravenous needles). Mothers with the virus can also pass on the infection to their baby during childbirth. This country is considered to have an intermediate or high prevalence of hepatitis B.

Prevention

Travellers should avoid contact with blood or body fluids, including avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse, tattooing, piercing, public shaving, and acupuncture (unless sterile equipment is used), and not sharing needles or other injection equipment. Following universal precautions if working in a healthcare or other higher-risk setting is also advised. A sterile medical equipment kit may be helpful when travelling to resource-poor areas.

Hepatitis B vaccination

Vaccination could be considered for all travellers and is recommended for those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, including those who may have unprotected sex, those who may be exposed to contaminated needles, and those who may be exposed to blood or body fluids through their work. Long-stay travellers and families adopting children from this country should also consider vaccination.

Hepatitis B in brief

Rabies

Rabies is a viral infection which is usually transmitted following contact with the saliva of an infected animal most often via a bite, scratch or lick to an open wound or mucous membrane. Rabies symptoms can take some time to develop, but when they do, the condition is almost always fatal. The risk of exposure is increased by certain activities and length of stay. Children are at increased risk as they are less likely to avoid contact with animals and to report a bite, scratch or lick.

Rabies in Iraq

Rabies is considered a risk and has been reported in domestic animals in this country. Bats may also carry rabies-like viruses.

Prevention

Travellers should avoid contact with all animals. Rabies is preventable with prompt post-exposure treatment. Following a possible exposure, wounds should be thoroughly cleansed and an urgent local medical assessment sought, even if the wound appears trivial.

Rabies vaccination

A full course of pre-exposure vaccines simplifies and shortens the course of post-exposure treatment and removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin which is in short supply worldwide. Pre-exposure vaccinations are recommended for travellers whose activities put them at increased risk, including those at risk due to their work and those travelling to areas where access to post-exposure treatment is limited.

Rabies in brief

Tuberculosis

TB is a bacterial infection most commonly affecting the lungs but can affect any part of the body. When a person with TB in their lungs or throat coughs or sneezes they could pass TB on to other people. TB is curable but can be serious if not treated. The BCG vaccination helps to protect some people, particularly babies and young children who are at increased risk from TB.

Prevention

Travellers should avoid close contact with individuals known to have infectious pulmonary or laryngeal TB. Those at risk during their work should take appropriate infection control and prevention precautions.

Tuberculosis (BCG) vaccination

BCG vaccine is recommended for those at increased risk of developing severe disease and/or of exposure to TB infection. For travellers, BCG vaccine is recommended for unvaccinated children under 16 years of age who are going to live for more than 3 months in this country.

Tuberculosis in brief

What are the malaria risks in Iraq?

Malaria is a serious illness caused by infection of red blood cells with a parasite called Plasmodium. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes which predominantly feed between dusk and dawn. Symptoms usually begin with a fever of 38°C (100°F) or more. Other symptoms may include feeling cold and shivery, headache, nausea, vomiting and aching muscles. Symptoms may appear between eight days and one year after the infected mosquito bite. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is required as people with malaria can deteriorate quickly.

Prevention

Travellers should follow an ABCD guide to preventing malaria:

• Awareness of the risk – Risk depends on the specific location, season of travel, length of stay, activities and type of accommodation.

• Bite prevention – Travellers should take mosquito bite avoidance measures.

• Chemoprophylaxis – Travellers should take antimalarials if appropriate for the area.

• Diagnosis – Travellers who develop a fever of 38°C (100°F) or higher more than one week after being in a malaria risk area, or who develop any symptoms suggestive of malaria within a year of return should seek immediate medical care.

Risk areas

There is a very low risk of malaria in the rural northern area of Iraq below 1,500m, from May to November: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended. There is no risk in the rest of Iraq.

Antimalarial recommendations map

There are no antimalarial drugs recommended for Iraq.

Resources

• Malaria in brief

• Malaria factsheet

• Insect and tick bite avoidance

• Malaria prevention guidelines for travellers from the UK

What are the other risks in Iraq?

There are some risks that are relevant to all travellers regardless of destination, such as road traffic and other accidents, diseases transmitted by insects or ticks, and diseases transmitted by contaminated food and water. Some additional risks in this country are mentioned below.

Altitude

There is a risk of altitude illness when travelling to destinations of 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) or higher. Important risk factors are the altitude gained, rate of ascent and sleeping altitude. Rapid ascent without a period of acclimatisation puts a traveller at higher risk.

Altitude illness in Iraq

There is a point of elevation in this country higher than 2,500 metres.

Prevention

Travellers should spend a few days at an altitude below 3,000m. Where possible, avoid travel from altitudes less than 1,200m to altitudes greater than 3,500m in a single day. Ascent above 3,000m should be gradual. Travellers who develop symptoms of AMS should avoid further ascent.

Altitude illness in brief

Biting insects or ticks

Insect or tick bites can cause irritation and infections of the skin at the site of a bite. They can also spread certain diseases.

Prevention

All travellers should avoid insect and tick bites day and night. There are no vaccinations to prevent these diseases.

Seasonal influenza

Seasonal influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract and spreads easily from person to person via respiratory droplets. Symptoms appear rapidly and include fever, muscle aches, headache, malaise, cough, sore throat and a runny nose. For those who do not fall into high-risk categories, vaccination may be available privately.

Prevention

Avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals, wash hands frequently, and practice ‘cough hygiene’. Vaccination is offered routinely each year to those at higher risk of severe disease following influenza infection.

Influenza in brief

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

MERS-CoV is a viral infection spread by direct or indirect contact with infected camels or camel-related products. Symptoms include fever and cough that can progress to severe shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Prevention

All travellers, particularly those with chronic medical conditions, should practice good general health measures and avoid contact with camels.

MERS-CoV in brief

Outdoor air quality

Poor air quality is a significant public health problem linked to many health issues. Current information on world air quality is available from the world air quality index project.

Prevention

Travellers with health problems that might make them more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution should discuss their travel plans with their doctor.

Outdoor air quality in brief

Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by larvae released from infected freshwater snails. There is a risk of schistosomiasis in this country.

Prevention

There is no vaccine or tablets to prevent schistosomiasis. All travellers should avoid wading, swimming, or bathing in fresh water.

Schistosomiasis in brief

Sexually transmitted infections

STIs are a group of infections spread during sexual intercourse or by intimate contact. Risk is higher for travellers who engage in high-risk sexual behavior.

Prevention

Using condoms consistently and correctly with new or casual partners is the most effective way to reduce risk of STIs. Travellers should seek medical advice if they think they may have an STI.

STIs in brief

Additional information

For further details on any of the above topics, consult your healthcare provider or the relevant health authorities.

Source and disclaimer

This travel health information is based on data supplied by NaTHNaC (the National Travel Health Network and Centre). All intellectual property rights in the data are owned by NaTHNaC. It must not be copied, reproduced, distributed, amended or offered for sale without NaTHNaC’s prior written consent.
Patient.info ensures that this information is reviewed and updated on at least a weekly basis. However, NaTHNaC’s data is accurate only as at the date it was prepared, and Patient.info is solely responsible for maintaining its accuracy and completeness after that date. NaTHNaC accepts no liability for the use of this data by Patient.info or its users.