Guinea

Recommended Vaccinations For Guinea

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.

For Some Travellers

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.**

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.

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).

Yellow Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in this country. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. It is also required for all arriving travelers from all countries if traveler is 9 months of age and above and arriving at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Conakry.

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 Guinea

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

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

Diseases To Be Aware of for Guinea

For Most Travellers

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Guinea through contaminated food or water.

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Guinea.

Cholera

Cholera outbreaks occur in Guinea. The risk to travellers is low unless living or working in poor sanitary conditions, drinking untreated water or eating poorly cooked or raw seafood in this country.

Dengue Fever

Outbreaks of dengue fever may occur.

For Some Travellers

Ebola Viral Disease

This disease may occur in the country.

African Tick Bite Fever

This disease may occur in the country.

Yellow Fever

There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in this country. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. It is also required for all arriving travelers from all countries if traveler is 9 months of age and above and arriving at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Conakry.

Typhoid Fever

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

Schistosomiasis

This disease is present in Guinea 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.

Zika Fever

This disease may occur in the country.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in Guinea. 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.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in Guinea. Travellers to Guinea 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.

Meningitis

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

Malaria

All areas of Guinea are at risk for malaria.

Safety & Security in Guinea

Personal Safety

Guinea faces considerable security challenges. Petty crime is common in Conakry and other urban areas, including pickpocketing, purse snatching, and theft from vehicles. Criminals often target foreigners at the airport and in crowded places like markets, hotels, and restaurants. Robberies and assaults happen frequently, with crime occurring both in daylight and especially after dark. Some incidents involve individuals posing as police or military armed with weapons. Break-ins are common and burglars may be armed. Nighttime travel outside Conakry should be avoided. Power outages are frequent throughout the country and often lead to increased crime when street and traffic lights fail. Foreigners arriving at Conakry airport after dark should arrange airport transfers in advance.

Extreme Violence

Guinea faces a low but present terrorism threat. Because Guinea contributes to the UN peacekeeping initiative in Mali, it may be considered a legitimate target by Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen and associated groups. These terrorist organizations mainly operate in the Sahel region including neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, but the threat may extend to other countries in the region due to porous borders. Terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out and could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners such as hotels, restaurants, markets, and other public areas.

Political Unrest

Guinea has experienced significant political instability since a military coup in 2021. The military junta has banned all political demonstrations since May 2022. Despite the ban, protests have occurred and have been violently repressed by security forces. Protests in 2023 and 2024 resulted in numerous deaths, scores of injuries, and hundreds of arrests. Security forces have used tear gas, live ammunition, and physical force against demonstrators. Protests can start with little warning and quickly turn violent. Demonstrators have set fire to buildings, erected roadblocks with burning tires, and thrown rocks at vehicles. Criminals often take advantage of traffic congestion during protests to rob drivers and pedestrians. Border areas are often tense with increased military presence. Demonstrations and strikes may disrupt basic services including road transport and international flights.

Areas To Avoid

Border areas with Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, and Sierra Leone should be avoided due to cross-border military and rebel activity, tensions between ethnic groups that can turn violent, and armed robbery. There is an increasing risk of foreign nationals being kidnapped along the border areas with Mali. The town of Nzérékoré in Forest Guinea faces risks of inter-ethnic violence. Industrial cities such as Fria have experienced confrontations related to tensions over work stoppages and access to raw materials. Outlying suburbs of Conakry face elevated risks of violent carjackings. Travel outside the Conakry peninsula should be completed before nightfall due to increased safety hazards and security concerns at night.