Morocco has a little bit of everything.

You can wander through the colourful souks of Marrakech, explore the ancient medina of Fes, hike through the Atlas Mountains, spend a night under the stars in the Sahara Desert or relax along the coast.

It is easy to see why Morocco continues to attract Canadian travellers looking for a mix of culture, adventure, food and unforgettable scenery.

But before you start perfecting your bargaining skills in the souks, there is one part of your trip worth planning before you leave Canada:

Your travel health.

Travel vaccines, food and water precautions, medication planning and routine vaccinations can all play a role in helping you stay healthy while abroad.

The right recommendations depend on your itinerary, activities, medical history and previous vaccinations. Virtual Travel Clinic provides virtual travel medicine consultations for Canadians, helping travellers prepare for their specific destination and travel plans.

Morocco Travel Health at a Glance

Your personal recommendations may be different depending on where you are going, what you are doing and how long you will be there.

Do Canadians Need Travel Vaccines for Morocco?

There is no single vaccine list that applies to every Canadian travelling to Morocco.

Your travel health recommendations should take into account:

• Your age
• Medical history
• Previous vaccinations
• Length of your trip
• Where you will be travelling
• Planned activities
• Accommodation
• Whether you will be spending time in rural or remote areas
• Potential exposure to animals
• Your departure date

Virtual Travel Clinic’s Morocco destination guidance identifies Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies and Typhoid among the travel immunizations to consider for travellers to Morocco.

That does not necessarily mean you need every vaccine on the list.

A travel medicine consultation is designed to help determine what is appropriate for you and your trip.

Hepatitis A and Travel to Morocco

Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver.

It can spread through the fecal-oral route, including through contaminated food or water and close personal contact with someone who is infected.

For travellers, this makes food and water safety particularly important.

And Morocco is a destination where food is definitely part of the experience.

From tagines and couscous to fresh markets and street food, trying local dishes is one of the best parts of travelling.

You just want to make sure your stomach is ready for the adventure too.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A can include:

• Fatigue
• Jaundice
• Abdominal discomfort
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Joint pain

Virtual Travel Clinic recommends discussing Hepatitis A vaccination as part of your Morocco travel health preparation.

Hepatitis B for Canadian Travellers

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and can sometimes lead to chronic infection.

It is primarily transmitted through infected blood and can also spread through unprotected sex or sharing needles.

Whether Hepatitis B vaccination is appropriate for your trip depends on your individual circumstances.

If you are travelling internationally, your travel health consultation is an opportunity to review your vaccination history and determine whether you are already protected or whether vaccination should be considered.

Virtual Travel Clinic includes Hepatitis B among the travel immunizations to consider for Morocco.

Measles and International Travel

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets and direct contact with infected individuals.

International travel can increase opportunities for exposure simply because you’re spending time in airports, aircraft, hotels, restaurants and other busy environments.

Anyone who is not protected against measles can be at risk.

Virtual Travel Clinic recommends ensuring routine vaccinations are up to date before travelling, including protection against measles through the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

Before travelling to Morocco, check whether you’re up to date on:

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Chickenpox
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Pertussis
• Polio
• Influenza
• Shingles, where appropriate

Your vaccination history matters, so if you aren’t sure what you’ve received, bring whatever records you have to your travel health consultation.

Typhoid and Morocco Travel

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

It can cause symptoms including:

• High fever
• Headache
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Stomach pain
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• A rose-coloured rash

Virtual Travel Clinic lists typhoid vaccination as a travel immunization to consider for Morocco. The vaccine is available in both injectable and oral forms.

Your Travel Medicine Professional can determine whether typhoid vaccination makes sense based on your individual travel plans.

Traveller’s Diarrhea in Morocco

Let’s talk about the travel souvenir nobody wants.

Traveller’s diarrhea.

It is one of the most common illnesses experienced by international travellers and can happen when consuming contaminated food or water.

Virtual Travel Clinic notes that traveller’s diarrhea can affect up to 70% of travellers, with risk reduced through good hygiene and careful food and drink choices.

Symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Bloating

How can you reduce your risk?

A few simple habits can make a difference.

Be careful with raw foods

Raw foods can carry a greater risk when sanitation or food preparation conditions are uncertain.

Think about your water

Choose safe drinking water and be mindful of ice and water used in food preparation.

Wash your hands

Especially before eating.

Pack a backup plan

Loperamide can be useful for managing mild traveller’s diarrhea.

Virtual Travel Clinic also notes that azithromycin may be prescribed as a first-line antibiotic for self-treatment of traveller’s diarrhea if symptoms develop. This can be discussed during a travel medicine consultation.

If diarrhea becomes severe, persists or is accompanied by concerning symptoms, seek medical attention.

Rabies and Morocco Travel

Rabies is a serious viral infection transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal.

Morocco’s landscapes and culture can bring travellers into contact with animals, whether you’re exploring rural areas, visiting markets or encountering stray animals.

That means animal safety deserves a spot on your travel checklist.

The golden rule?

Don’t approach unfamiliar animals.

Even if that cat looks like it would make an excellent travel buddy.

Rabies can be fatal if treatment is not received before symptoms develop. Virtual Travel Clinic notes that rabies treatment may be limited or unavailable in some circumstances, which can mean returning to Canada for treatment.

Rabies vaccination may be worth discussing if you expect increased animal exposure, will be travelling in remote areas or have other risk factors.

What Should You Do If an Animal Bites You?

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling:

1. Wash the wound immediately with soap and water.
2. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
3. Tell the healthcare provider that you may have been exposed to rabies.
4. Contact your travel insurance provider if appropriate.
5. Follow medical advice about rabies post-exposure treatment.

Don’t wait to see if you develop symptoms.

Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal.

What Should You Pack for Morocco?

Your travel health kit doesn’t have to take up half your suitcase.

A few carefully chosen items can be incredibly useful when you’re dealing with a headache, upset stomach or minor illness far from home.

Virtual Travel Clinic recommends considering the following over-the-counter items for Morocco:

If you take prescription medications at home, make sure you bring enough for your entire trip.

It’s also smart to keep important medications in your carry-on rather than putting everything into checked luggage.

Sun Protection in Morocco

Morocco gets plenty of sunshine, and depending on your itinerary, you could spend significant time outdoors.

You may be:

• Exploring the medinas
• Hiking in the Atlas Mountains
• Visiting the Sahara
• Walking through outdoor markets
• Relaxing on the coast
• Exploring historical sites

Pack sun protection and actually use it.

Your Morocco sun checklist:

☀️ Broad-spectrum sunscreen

🕶️ Sunglasses

🧢 A hat

👕 Lightweight, breathable clothing

💧 Plenty of fluids

Sun protection is especially important during long days of sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Travelling to the Sahara Desert?

A desert adventure is likely to be one of the highlights of your Morocco trip.

It also means you’re travelling into a very different environment from what you may be used to in Canada.

If you’re spending time in the Sahara, think about:

• Sun exposure
• Heat
• Hydration
• Long periods outdoors
• Access to medical care
• Appropriate clothing
• Travel insurance

Planning ahead can help you enjoy the experience without letting dehydration or sun exposure put a damper on your adventure.

Hiking in the Atlas Mountains?

Morocco isn’t just souks and desert landscapes.

The Atlas Mountains offer opportunities for hiking, trekking and outdoor adventures.

If your itinerary includes significant hiking or remote travel, mention this during your travel health consultation.

Your activities can influence your health recommendations.

It’s also important to think about how far you’ll be from medical care.

The further you travel from major centres, the more important it becomes to have a plan for managing potential health problems.

Healthcare in Morocco

Healthcare quality varies throughout Morocco.

Virtual Travel Clinic’s Morocco destination guidance notes that good private medical facilities are available in cities including Casablanca, Marrakech and Rabat, while public healthcare may fall below Canadian standards.

Some doctors and hospitals may require immediate payment.

That makes travel insurance particularly important.

Before leaving Canada, make sure your insurance covers:

• Emergency medical care
• Hospital stays
• Medical evacuation

Medical evacuation can be extremely expensive, particularly if you are travelling far from major cities.

A good travel insurance policy can provide important financial protection if something unexpected happens.

Do You Need Travel Insurance for Morocco?

Travel insurance is an important part of international travel planning.

Your provincial health plan should not be treated as a replacement for comprehensive travel medical insurance.

Before your trip, check your policy carefully and make sure you understand:

• What medical expenses are covered
• Whether hospital stays are covered
• Whether medical evacuation is covered
• Whether pre-existing conditions have specific requirements
• Who to contact in an emergency

Keep your insurance information somewhere accessible while travelling.

When Should You Get Travel Vaccines for Morocco?

Ideally, you should start your travel health planning several weeks before departure.

This gives you time to:

• Review your vaccination history
• Identify recommended vaccines
• Complete vaccine schedules when needed
• Discuss travel medications
• Plan for traveller’s diarrhea
• Ask questions about your itinerary
• Purchase appropriate travel insurance
• Prepare your travel health kit

But if you’re leaving soon, don’t assume you’ve missed your opportunity.

A last-minute travel consultation can still help you understand the health risks associated with your trip and determine what recommendations may be appropriate with the time available.

Leaving soon? It’s better to ask than to guess.

Morocco Travel Health Checklist

Before your suitcase is zipped up, check these off:

☐ Review your routine vaccinations

☐ Discuss Hepatitis A

☐ Review Hepatitis B protection

☐ Discuss typhoid vaccination

☐ Review measles protection

☐ Consider whether rabies vaccination is appropriate

☐ Pack loperamide and other basic medications

☐ Pack sunscreen and sun protection

☐ Review food and water precautions

☐ Avoid contact with unfamiliar animals

☐ Purchase comprehensive travel insurance

☐ Check that your insurance includes medical evacuation

☐ Save important medical information

☐ Book your travel health consultation

Passport? Check.

Flight? Check.

Morocco itinerary? Check.

Travel health plan? Also check.

FAQ’s