80 years ago, the world was gripped by The Mummy’s Curse movie, released on December 22, 1944. The film was evidence of a fascination in Egypt and its heritage, something which still exists all these decades later, with over half a million Brits visiting Egypt annually.
But if you travel to Egypt, whether to track down the pharaohs or cruise the Nile, what travel health situations need to be considered and what vaccinations do you need for Egypt?
Clarifying which travel vaccinations are required for Egypt
The answer to that really should depend on you, your itinerary and what you will be doing when you get there. These are the things Pinpoint Travel Health focuses on through its advanced travel health software, when creating bespoke Travel Health Briefs for those wanting complete clarity when it comes to protecting their and their family’s health.
However, if you try to search for travel health advice elsewhere, you will most probably be provided with country-wide health information for Egypt, which takes no account of your individual plans, time of travel and activities whilst there.
That can be an issue. Just think about it. Two weeks lazing on the beach at Sharm El Sheikh is a very different trip to one focused on the Great Desert Circuit and combining a desert jeep safari with camel trekking. That is again different from a visit that involves touring the museums of Cairo, or visiting the battlefield of El Alamein. And your travel health requirements may be different, if you are arriving in Egypt from certain other countries.
Yellow Fever certification for Egypt
To pick up on this last point, you will need a yellow fever vaccination and a certificate that proves you have been vaccinated, if you have travelled from a country with a yellow fever risk, or spent more than 12 hours transiting through such a country’s airport. This need for a yellow fever vaccine and certificate applies to anybody over the age of nine months.
Egypt and malaria
The great news on the travel health front for Egypt is that, in October 2024, the World Health Organisation – whose data is utilised within the Pinpoint Travel Health service – declared Egypt to be malaria-free. This followed a century of battling to achieve that position.
That means antimalarial medication should not be required for Egypt. However, should you be on a cruise calling into Alexandria, but also sailing to other locations at which you will enjoy shore leave, do check the situation. Upload your cruise itinerary to the Pinpoint Travel Health system and it will analyse the travel health scenario at all of your ports of call and provide a clear picture of both the antimalarials and travel vaccinations you should book.
The vaccinations most Egyptian travellers require
Most travellers going to Egypt need to protect against Hepatitis A and tetanus through the appropriate vaccinations. Even if you have had the tetanus vaccine previously, if it was more than 10 years ago, you might need another dose, according to your location and the availability of medical facilities near to it.
Tetanus occurs when a wound, scratch or burn is infected by bacteria carried in soil. In dusty, sandy and rural environments, that can be a particular risk.
Polio has also proven to be a serious health threat in recent years in Egypt so it is probably advisable to check polio vaccinations were given to all travellers in your party. From there, ascertain whether a booster dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) might be necessary. This could be the situation, if you are travelling to locations in Egypt where sanitation is poor, or are intending to work as a health worker, or visiting places where polio cases have been reported.
Another vaccination that may be required is rabies. Cats, dogs and bats in Egypt can all carry rabies and transmit this to humans through bites and scratches. Therefore, consider this risk, according to the activities you will be engaging in. With rabies immunoglobin in short supply worldwide, accessing this could prove difficult during your travels. Prevention, through a vaccination, could be the best way to protect your health.
Hepatitis B and typhoid vaccines may also be recommended vaccines for some travellers, according to their own health situation and plans. Again, Pinpoint Travel Health will advise on this within a Travel Health Brief.
Taking practical measures to secure travel health in Egypt
You can lower your own risk of falling ill by remembering to drink bottled and not tap water, avoiding fresh fruit, vegetables and salads that could have been washed in infected water, and following good hygiene practices. Travellers should also be sensible and not share needles or get tattoos whilst travelling.
Not all of Egypt’s travel health risks can be vaccinated against, so practical measures and common sense are needed. The risk of suffering insect or tick-borne diseases such as dengue and Rift Valley fever can be reduced by using DEET-based repellent, covering up exposed skin as much as possible when out and about and ensuring you use mosquito nets at night.
To avoid the risk of schistosomiasis, travellers should not wade, paddle or swim in freshwater pools, streams or rivers.
Keep on top of all travel health requirements before you enter into an Indiana Jones-style adventure, take that volunteering job or venture into parts of Egypt that require health caution and you should be able to explore the African country’s glories to the full. Be in the know about the vaccinations you need for Egypt, by ordering a Travel Health Brief today.