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Diseases transmitted by insects or animalsThe whole country is malarial; strains are highly resistant to chloroquine (zone 3). Outbreaks of yellow fever can occur at any time. The last outbreak occurred in October 2008. Cases of Lassa fever occur regularly. It is a viral hemorrhagic fever hosted by a rodent. Around 8 in 10 people infected with Lassa virus develop mild or no symptoms, but in 20 percent of cases people will have severe illness. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, a cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle pain. Plague has been identified in Central African Republic, but the risk for travelers is small. There are cases of animal rabies in the country. |
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Diseases transmitted by food, water or through the environmentDiarrheic diseases are frequent among travelers who do not take precautions. In 2009, 14 cases of polio were reported countrywide. Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease transmitted via the oro-fecal route. It may cause paralysis. An efficient vaccine exits against this disease. Due to the risk of schistosomiasis and other parasitic infestations, travelers are advised not to bathe in fresh waters (lake, rivers) and should not walk barefoot. |
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Diseases transmitted by contact with infected peopleAIDS and other STD are highly prevalent. According to UNAIDS, 6.3% of the population (aged 15 to 49) is IHV-positive. 150 000 people, out of the country's 4.2-million population, are HIV-positive. HIV is by far the first cause of mortality in the country. Central African Republic is located in the meningitis belt, where outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis occur frequently, particularly during the dry season. Meningococcal meningitis is a disease characterized by sudden fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck and a rash. The fatality rate is usually 5-15 percent. Transmission occurs by inhaling the bacteria, direct mouth-to-mouth contact with an infected person or contamination by an infected person's nasal secretions. |
