Côte d’Ivoire

Recommended Vaccinations For Côte d’Ivoire

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

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.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

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

Yellow Fever Vaccine

Travellers are at risk for yellow fever in this country. This country requires all persons greater than 9 months of age to have proof of the yellow fever vaccination.

Meningitis Vaccine

Because this country is located in the sub-Saharan meningitis belt, vaccination against meningitis is recommended if travelling during the dry season (December to June).

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.

Rabies Vaccine

Pre-travel 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. Persons with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

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 or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Recommended Medications For Côte d’Ivoire

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Recommended anti-malaria medications include atovaquone-proguanil, mefloquine or doxycycline. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxime-pyrimethamine has been reported.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Côte d’Ivoire

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Côte d’Ivoire.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Côte d’Ivoire through contaminated food or water.

Dengue Fever

Outbreaks of dengue fever may occur.

Cholera

Cholera outbreaks occur in Côte d’Ivoire. The risk to travellers is low unless living or working in poor sanitary conditions, drinking untreated water or eating poorly cooked or raw seafood.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

For Some Travellers

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

There is a risk of acquiring the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever in Côte d'Ivoire.

Malaria

All areas of Côte d’Ivoire are at risk for malaria.

Hanta Virus

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

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.

Lassa Fever

There is a risk of acquiring Lassa fever through breathing in unsafe air, eating contaminated food with droppings of infected rats.

Monkeypox

There is a risk of monkeypox in the country. The disease is 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.

Ebola Viral Disease

There is a risk of Ebola in the country. 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.

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.

Measles

There is a risk of exposure to measles in the country.

African Tick Bite Fever

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

Sleeping Sickness (Type 1)

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

Yellow Fever

Travellers are at risk for yellow fever in this country. This country requires all persons greater than 9 months of age to have proof of the yellow fever vaccination.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Côte d’Ivoire, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Meningitis

Meningitis outbreaks may occur in Côte d’Ivoire. Travellers who visit during the dry season (December to June) or expect to have prolonged contact with the local population are especially at risk.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in Côte d’Ivoire. Travellers to Côte d’Ivoire 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.

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.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in the Côte d’Ivoire. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) 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.

Zika Fever

Zika fever may occur in this country.

Safety & Security in Côte d’Ivoire

Personal Safety

Violent crime including carjacking, robbery, and home invasion is common in some areas of Cote d’Ivoire. Pickpocketing and bag snatching occur regularly throughout the country, particularly on public transportation and in crowded places. Local police often lack resources to respond to serious crimes. Armed criminals known as coupeurs de route operate on secondary and deserted roads, setting up roadblocks to intercept vehicles at gunpoint and sometimes assaulting passengers. These incidents occur at all hours in areas of agricultural production and gold panning. In Abidjan, armed break-ins to private residences and armed hold-ups in the street do occur, though not commonly. Credit and debit card fraud is frequent. Corruption and bribery remain endemic, particularly affecting police, judiciary, and government services. Petty bribery hampers access to basic services. During the 2020 presidential election, more than 50 people were killed in violence at public demonstrations, though subsequent demonstrations have not faced similar levels of violence.

Extreme Violence

Terrorist attacks are a risk, particularly in northern border areas. The main threat comes from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda linked group that operates primarily in the Sahel region including Burkina Faso and Mali. Between 2020 and 2021, roughly 20 attacks targeted military posts along the northern border. In 2021, Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb carried out 17 small-scale attacks killing approximately 20 people. Attacks have happened in the Savanes and Zanzan Districts, including Comoe National Park, mainly targeting Ivorian security forces though civilians have also been targeted. Since 2021, there have been no reported terrorist attacks in the country following increased government security deployment in the north. In 2016, the first Islamist attack occurred when Al-Qaeda linked militants killed 19 civilians near the resort town of Grand-Bassam. In December 2022, an Ivorian court sentenced 11 defendants to life imprisonment for their role in this attack. Piracy with armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom are significant threats to ships operating in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast.

Political Unrest

Political tensions are increasing leading up to the October 2025 presidential election. Demonstrations are expected after election-related announcements and local authorities may adjust security measures and restrict movement. In 2020, President Ouattara’s controversial bid for a third term led to violent demonstrations that killed more than 50 people. The president banned public demonstrations during this period and police violently dispersed protests. In August 2025, thousands protested in Abidjan against the exclusion of opposition leaders, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, from the upcoming election. Four main opposition figures were barred from running by the electoral commission in 2025. In February 2023, 31 supporters of an opposition party were arrested during a protest in Abidjan, with 26 activists sentenced to two years in prison for disturbing public order though sentences were later suspended on appeal. Even peaceful gatherings can lead to disruptions affecting traffic and public transportation. Inter-community land conflicts occur regularly and result in violent clashes. The 2021 parliamentary elections were relatively peaceful and transparent without the militia violence seen previously.

Areas To Avoid

Avoid all travel within 50 kilometers of the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso due to heightened risk of terrorist activity. There is continued risk from armed groups and militias in these northern border areas. Terrorist groups are active in the regions of Folon, Bagoue, Poro and Tchologo, the provinces of Northern Zanzan and Savenes, and in the Bounkani region including Comoe National Park in the northeast. Avoid non-essential travel within 25 kilometers of the border with Liberia due to crime, insecurity, and recurrent inter-community conflicts. The regions of Dix-Huit Montagnes and Moyen-Cavally bordering Liberia have reports of banditry and carjacking. Within 20 kilometers of the Liberian border there is risk of serious violence by local militias. The situation is unstable near the borders of Burkina Faso and Mali with ongoing risk of clashes between armed groups and security forces. In Abidjan, avoid walking over bridges to and from the La Plateau areas as pedestrians have been robbed in daylight on these bridges. Attacks by armed robbers have occurred on main roads between Yamoussoukro, Bouake and Korhogo and in the west of the country. Swimming in coastal waters is dangerous and strongly discouraged due to powerful and treacherous ocean currents. Numerous people drown each year. Beaches are generally unsupervised with no rescue services.