Madagascar

Have a safe trip with travel vaccines and advice from medical professionals.

Travel health and safety for Madagascar 🇲🇬

Madagascar is a popular destination for its unique wildlife, national parks, and stunning coastlines. Travelers often visit cities like Antananarivo, Nosy Be, and Toamasina, or explore remote areas to experience the country’s biodiversity and natural beauty.

While the scenery is exceptional, travel in Madagascar also comes with health considerations. Access to quality health care is limited, particularly outside of major cities. It’s important to plan ahead and be prepared for potential medical needs during your trip.

Travel Immunizations for Madagascar

What vaccines do I need for Madagascar? Get all the information and vaccinations you need to minimize travel health risks.

Yellow fever

Vaccination is not recommended or required.
Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country where yellow fever occurs.

Hepatitis A

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

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.

Measles

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

Rabies

Rabies is a devastating 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.

Typhoid

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by salmonella from improperly prepared food or contaminated water.

Typhoid vaccine is available in both injectable and oral forms and provides protection against typhoid fever.
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.

We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the provided information, however, it is not feasible for us to update daily. Please book a virtual consultation with one of our Travel Medicine Professionals for current, personalized advice and answers to any questions you may have.

Health Canada strongly advises travelers ensure their routine vaccinations are up to date, including:

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Guards against the varicella-zoster virus, responsible for chickenpox.

Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP)

Protects against three different bacterial infections.

Flu (Influenza)

Vaccination against seasonal influenza strains is essential.

Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Provides immunity against all three diseases in one shot.

Polio

Essential for guarding against the poliovirus.

Shingles

Offers protection against a viral infection that causes painful rashes.

COVID-19

The ongoing pandemic necessitates adherence to vaccination guidelines and preventive measures.

Madagascar Concerns / Health Canada Recommendations

Traveler’s diarrhea

Most common illness for travelers, from consuming contaminated food & water

Affects up to 70% of travelers and risks minimized with good hygiene and safe food/drink choices (e.g. avoid raw foods, ice in drinks).
Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, fever, bloating.
Azithromycin, the first-line antibiotic against travelers diarrhea, is available by prescription for self-treatment if symptoms develop. This can be obtained in your Travel Medicine consultation.

Malaria

Malaria is a serious and occasionally fatal disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, similar to the flu. Without treatment, malaria can cause severe illness and death.
Malaria can be treated with anti-malarial medications.
Use insect repellents containing DEET, wear long sleeves, long pants, and consider staying in accommodations with screens or bed nets.

Insect Bite Prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. Cover up and use insect repellents to protect against infection.

Chikungunya: Symptoms include joint pains, fever, rash, and headache.
Dengue: Symptoms include high-grade fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, rash, and nausea/vomiting.

Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that can spread to humans through freshwater sources contaminated by blood flukes (tiny worms).

Symptoms include itchy rash at site of penetration, fever, cough, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Avoid swimming in freshwater sources (lakes, rivers, ponds).

Over the Counter Medications for Travel to Madagascar

Pain Relief

Medications such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil) can be helpful for managing headaches, muscle pain, or fever.

Anti-Diarrheal Medications

It’s advisable to carry over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications like loperamide (e.g., Imodium) to treat mild cases of traveler’s diarrhea. However, it’s important to stay hydrated and seek medical attention if diarrhea persists or worsens.

Antacids

Antacids like Tums or Pepto-Bismol can provide relief from indigestion or heartburn, which can sometimes occur when trying new foods or experiencing changes in diet during travel.

Allergy Medications

If you have known allergies, carrying antihistamines like cetirizine (e.g., Reactine) or diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl) can help manage allergic reactions to environmental allergens or insect bites.

Motion Sickness Medications

If you are prone to motion sickness, consider carrying medication like dimenhydrinate (e.g., Gravol) to alleviate symptoms during long journeys or when traveling by car, train, or boat.

Sun Protection

It is essential to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF, wear hats, sunglasses, and lightweight, breathable clothing.

Medical Services and Facilities in Madagascar

Medical facilities are limited and extremely limited in other parts of the country. Access to reliable care is especially scarce in rural areas.
Private clinics expect immediate cash payment. In the case of serious illness or injury, medical evacuation is likely to be necessary.
Medical transport is very expensive and often requires upfront payment. Get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Consular Assistance Madagascar

Pretoria - High Commission of Canada

Street Address: 1103 Arcadia Street, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0083, South Africa

Telephone: +27 12 422 3000

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/south_africa-afrique_sud/pretoria.aspx?lang=eng

* The Consulate of Canada in Antananarivo, Madagascar has temporarily suspended its operations. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information from the High Commission of Canada in South Africa, in Pretoria:

Emergency Services

In case of emergency, dial:

117 for emergency assistance

What Our Customers Are Saying

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Nass

Brought to you by a team of trusted healthcare professionals

We know how hard it can be for Canadians to get the healthcare they need, when they need it. That’s why Rockdoc is on a mission to help Canadians navigate healthcare. We have decades of experience providing emergent, urgent, and continuing healthcare services and solutions – meeting and exceeding the standard of care for our patients and our communities.

Dr. Sam Gutman

CEO and Chief Medical Officer
MD CCFP, FCFP, EM-SEM

Dr. Shaan Pawa

Associate Medical Director
MD CCFP-EM CTH®

Kristyna Sorensen

Medical Operations Manager
RN, BSN