Health Precautions

Contents

• Before you go
• Things to bring
• While you are there
• General precautions
• Food and water precautions
• Malaria precautions
• After you get home

Have a safe and enjoyable trip to Tajikistan by taking a few simple precautions:

Before you go

• Take health advice. Read your government's health advice for travellers to Tajikistan. Speak to your doctor or practice nurse. Some good books are also available.
• If you suffer from a medical condition, you should take specialist advice. Consider attending a travel clinic.
• Ensure that you have all the vaccinations that you need (including boosters where necessary).
• Take out appropriate travel insurance.
• Make sure you know your blood group. Carry a note of this and any other important medical records on your person with your insurance documents.
• For longer-term stays, have a health check, dental check and eyesight check before travel. Female travellers should have a cervical smear test.

Things to bring

• A First Aid Kit.
• Water purification tablets (iodine).
• Water filter or purifier. We recommend the Aquapure Traveller.
• Mosquito net treated with premethrin.
• Dental Emergency Kit

Most common medicines can be purchased in Dushanbe, but for travel outside the capital it is best to bring a supply of basic medication. Pack all medication in your hand luggage, along with a copy of any prescriptions and a doctor's letter.

While you are there

General precautions

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Don't handle animals (especially dogs and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases such as rabies.
• Don't share needles with anyone.

Food and water precautions

• Read Safe Food and Water.
• Don't drink the water, even if local people say it is drinkable. Tap water should be boiled or filtered before consumption. Alternatively, stick to boiled water or carbonated drinks in cans or bottles.
• Avoid ice cubes.
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food, or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself.
• Don't eat or drink dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurised.
• If you should succumb to the dreaded Travellers' Diarrhoea, make sure you stay well hydrated. For bouts lasting more than 24 hours or so take Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).

Malaria precautions

• Malaria Information for Travelers to the Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union
• Map of Malaria risk areas in Tajikistan

If you plan to visit Tajikistan during the summer, you should take precautions against mosquito bites:

• Wear long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt or top to prevent insect bites.
• Use an insect repellant on exposed areas of skin.
• At night, use a mosquito net.

If you plan to travel to southern Tajikistan, take additional precautions:

• Take advice from your doctor on the correct antimalarial medicine (prophylaxis) to take. (WHO recommend chloroquine).
• Begin taking the medicine one to three weeks before you travel, as directed by your doctor. Continue taking it while in the risk area, and for several days or weeks afterwards as directed.

After you get home

• If you have visited a region of Tajikistan where there is a malaria risk, continue taking your malaria medication weekly for several days or weeks after you get home, as directed by your doctor.
• If you become ill after your trip (even as long as a year after you get home), tell your doctor where you have travelled.