Main health risks for Rwanda

Diseases transmitted by insects or animals

Malaria is present in the whole country. Strains are widely resistant to chloroquine (zone 3).

Yellow fever is endemic in the country.

Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping sickness) is endemic in the country. The disease is transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly. Symptoms begin with fever and headache continues with mental confusions, insomnia during nightime and daytime slumber. If not treated, the disease can be fatal.

There are cases of animal rabies in the country.

Diseases transmitted by food, water or through the environment

Diarrheic diseases are very frequent in the country. By the end of September 2009, at least 50 cases of cholera were reported in the north western part of Rwanda. No deaths were reported in this area which had been free of cholera for a decade.

The risks of typhoid fever and hepatitis A are high.

There is a risk of schistosomiasis and other parasitic infestation; it is recommended to avoid bathing in lakes and to avoid walking bare-foot.

Diseases transmitted by contact with infected people

Rwanda is among the ten countries in Africa most severely affected by HIV/AIDS. The country is facing a generalized epidemic. Prevalence rate among adult population (15-49 years) is decreasing, but 3% of the adult population is HIV positive. HIV is still among the highest cause of mortality in Rwanda.

Epidemics of meningitis occur every 8 to 14 years during the dry season (from December to February) to stop at the beginning of the rain season.