Travel health and safety for the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa) 🇨🇩

Hepatitis A virus can cause liver disease, and in rare cases, liver failure and death.

• Can be spread by fecal-oral transmission, consuming contaminated food or water, or close, personal contact with an infected person.
• Symptoms may range from mild to severe, including fatigue, jaundice, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, and joint pain.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that targets the liver and may cause chronic infections. 

• Its primary mode of transmission is through direct blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. It can also be transmitted through unprotected sex or sharing needles.
• Symptoms may range from mild to severe, including fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and joint pain.

Yellow Fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in certain regions of Africa and South America.

• Mild cases: Fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting
• Severe cases: High fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), bleeding, organ failure, and, in some cases, death.
• Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers from all countries.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

• Spreads through respiratory droplets and direct contact with infected individuals.
• Symptoms initially resemble a common cold, followed by a characteristic rash fever, cough, runny nose, small, white spots inside the mouth and throat red eyes, sleepiness, and irritability.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is in the African Meningitis Belt, an area where there are many cases of meningococcal disease. Travelers who may be at high risk should consider getting vaccinated.

• It is spread through respiratory secretions and require close contact for transmission
• Traveler’s with increased risk include those with prolonged, close contact with local population, those attending mass gatherings, long stay travelers.
• Meningitis risk is mainly during the dry season.
• Symptoms take an average of four days to appear. In some cases, symptoms may appear between two and ten days after infection.
• They usually include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. Other symptoms may include sensitivity to light (photophobia), confusion and a purplish skin rash.
• Complications can include deafness, brain damage, seizures and may lead to death.

Rabies is a viral infection transmitted through animal bites.  

• Symptoms may initially include fever, headache, and discomfort at the bite site, progressing to more severe neurological symptoms. Rabies is fatal if it is not treated before symptoms develop.
• Rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.

Polio is a highly infectious vaccine-preventable disease.

• Polio can infect the central nervous system and damage nerve cells that activate muscles.
• Spread from person to person and through contaminated food and water.
• Polio virus can cause paralysis and death in individuals of any age who are not immune.

Cholera is a serious intestinal infection caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria.

• Found in infected water or food contaminated with the bacteria.
• Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, watery diarrhea.
• Strongly consider getting vaccinated against cholera.

Typhoid is a bacterial infection typically transmitted through contaminated food and water.  

• Consider getting vaccinated against typhoid.
• Symptoms of typhoid fever include a high fever, headache, weakness, fatigue, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a rose-colored rash on the chest and abdomen.