Democratic Republic of the Congo - Kinshasa

Recommended Vaccinations For Democratic Republic of the Congo - Kinshasa

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against the disease.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

One dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) is recommended to infants 6 to 11 months prior to international travel.

Polio Vaccine

A single lifetime booster dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is recommended for adults who received the routine polio vaccination series as children.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine

A BCG vaccine is recommended for all unvaccinated adults and children under 16 years of age, staying in the country for more than 3 months. A tuberculin skin test is required prior to administering vaccination for all children from 6 years of age.

Meningitis Vaccine

Meningitis vaccination is recommended for travel to this country during the dry season (January-February and May to September). Travellers with prolonged contact with the local population are especially at risk.

Cholera Vaccine

The U.K. NaTHNaC recommends the oral cholera vaccine for some travellers whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, travelling to areas of active cholera transmission. These risk factors include: aid workers; those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to potable water and medical care; travellers for whom the vaccination would be considered potentially beneficial, such as chronic medical conditions. The U.S. CDC recommends the cholera vaccine for travellers who are 18-64 years of age and who plan to travel to areas of active cholera transmission. CDC notes that most travellers do not travel to areas of active cholera transmission, and that safe food and water practices can prevent many cholera infections.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities, rural areas, or staying with friends and family.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in this country. This country requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for any traveller one year of age or older. It is recommended that all travellers 9 months of age and older have the yellow fever vaccination.

Recommended Medications For Democratic Republic of the Congo - Kinshasa

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Anti-malaria medication is recommended for travellers. Recommended medications are atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. Anti-malaria drug resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has been reported.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Democratic Republic of the Congo - Kinshasa

For Most Travellers

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever occurs in this country. All travelers to dengue infested areas are at risk.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in the DRC.

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in the DRC.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

Cholera

There is a risk of cholera in the DRC. The disease is caused by contaminated food and water and it can cause severe watery diarrhoea. However, most travelers are at low risk.

For Some Travellers

West Nile Fever

The virus is transmitted to animals, birds and humans by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, and skin rash.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Commonly spread via contact with domesticated animals infected with the virus. These include cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels, among others.

Leishmaniasis

There is a risk of acquiring Leishmaniasis in the country. The infection is transmitted by the bite of infected phlebotomine sandfly.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

There is a risk of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever in DRC.

Monkeypox

There is a risk of monkeypox in the country. The disease can be caused by being scratched or bitten by an infected animal (a rodent or primate), or touching animal products, including skins and meat and being near an infected person who is coughing or sneezing.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring hantavirus in DRC through contaminated food or by coming into contact with someone infected with the virus.

Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever

Marburg hemorrhagic fever is caused by touching infected animals or their body fluids ; touching body fluids (blood or sweat) from an infected person or objects contaminated with the body fluids of a person infected with Ebola or Marburg virus.

Ebola Viral Disease

There is a risk of ebola in DRC. Ebola is caused by coming into contact with the body fluids from an infected person (alive or dead), such as blood, urine, saliva, and sweat, among others. Medical equipment contaminated with the boly fluids of an infected person or a person who died of Ebola or Marburg also cause the disease.

Plague

There is a risk of acquiring Plague in DRC. The disease is caused by a bacteria that can infect both people and animals. People get plague after being bitten by infected fleas, handling an infected animal, or breathing in infectious droplets from an infected person or animal.

Polio

There is a risk of acquiring Polio in the country and is transmitted from one person to another when droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person gets into the mouth of another person.

Zika Fever

There is an increased risk of this disease in this country.

Malaria

Malaria risk exists throughout the year in all areas of the country.

African Tick Bite Fever

There is an increased risk of this disease in this country.

Yellow Fever

There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in this country. This country requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for any traveller one year of age or older. It is recommended that all travellers 9 months of age and older have the yellow fever vaccination.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in the DRC, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas and staying with friends or relatives.

Meningitis

Epidemics of meningitis may occur in this country during the dry season (January to February and May to September). Travellers with prolonged contact with the local population are especially at risk.

Sleeping Sickness (Type 1)

African trypanosomiasis (“sleeping sickness”) occurs in this country. Travellers to urban areas are not at risk.

Schistosomiasis

This disease is present in this country and is acquired through contact with fresh water, such as swimming, bathing, or rafting. Well-chlorinated swimming pools and contact with saltwater in oceans or seas will not put travellers at risk for schistosomiasis.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in this country. Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in DRC.Bats may also carry rabies-like viruses. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in Democratic Republic of the Congo - Kinshasa

Personal Safety

Overall, the security situation is unstable and unpredictable in the DRC, and there is a high rate of crime and violent robbery. Risk increases after dark. Foreigners are sometimes the victims of street crime and armed robbery, especially in Kinshasa. Never walk alone day or night. Avoid showing signs of wealth, and keep valuables out of sight. Safeguard your important documents, such as your passport. Do not carry large sums of cash.

There is a risk of carjackings and vehicle theft so keep windows and doors closed and locked at all times. Stay on main roads and never park in unsupervised areas. Road travel can be hazardous due to poorly maintained vehicles, roads in poor condition, and drivers not adhering to the rules of the road.

Police have few resources, are poorly trained, and can be corrupt. DRC security forces may solicit bribes from foreigners. There are reports that roadblocks are sometimes set up, especially at night, and foreign nationals have been arbitrarily arrested. Security personnel may attempt to detain foreigners and bribe them in exchange for their release. Always carry your passport and visa with you, however, if asked to show identification at a checkpoint, show your document behind a car window. Check with local authorities to learn whether additional travel authorization is needed for inter-country travel.

There have been reports of robberies by gangs of street children.

There is no reliable transportation infrastructure in the DRC, including road, rail, or air carriers certified in the DRC.

Exercise extreme caution if driving in the DRC. The incidence of road accidents is high. Road travel is dangerous due to poor road conditions, debris poorly maintained vehicles, and reckless driving. Do not Avoid travel after dark. During the rainy season, many roads may be impassable due to flooding and washouts.

You can be detained for taking pictures of public places and government buildings, including the international airport in Kinshasa. When passing a government installation during the raising or lowering of the DRC flag (about 7:30 am and 6:00 pm daily), pedestrians and traffic must stop. Anyone failing to stop can be detained.

Be aware that you could be arrested, detained, or deported for activities that might not be considered crimes in your country of origin.

Curfews can be imposed at any time without notice. Always follow the directions of local authorities.

Do not use ferry lines as a method of transportation. Ferries are often overcrowded and do not meet safety standards.

Tourism facilities are virtually non-existent outside of Kinshasa and telephone communication is unreliable.

DRC is located in an active seismic zone and is, therefore, at risk of earthquakes. Volcanic eruptions are also common in some areas of the DRC.

Extreme Violence

There is a high risk of violent crime, armed conflict, and kidnapping in the DRC, including the risk of kidnapping aid workers. The security situation in eastern DRC remains unstable. Armed groups are present and intercommunal violence can affect the political, security and humanitarian situation. There are continued reports of several towns in eastern DRC being attacked by or falling under temporary control of armed groups.

Political Unrest

Violent political and ethnic demonstrations have occurred and people have been killed. In the run-up to the general elections scheduled for December 2023, clashes between demonstrators, the police and opponents have occurred during political demonstrations. To minimize safety risk, avoid all areas of public gatherings and protests and be particularly vigilant and cautious during periods of civil unrest.

Areas To Avoid

Due to the unstable and unpredictable safety and security situation, avoid all travel to the following areas:

• Maniema

• North Kivu

• South Kivu

• Tanganyika (northeastern area of the former province of Katanga)

• Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele and Ituri (northeastern area of the former province of Orientale)

• Points of entry to Burundi, Uganda, and Rwanda

• Areas bordering South Sudan (including the Garamba National Park) and Uganda.