Facilities and Health Information:
Medical facilities and physicians in Eritrea are limited. In 2010, the Eritrean government closed all private medical clinics and laboratories. Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventative medicines because pharmaceuticals may be in short supply. Food and water-borne illnesses are very common among travelers, so drink only bottled or purified water and eat foods that are cooked or peeled. Malaria and dengue fever are serious risks to travelers in the lowlands of Eritrea, particularly during the rainy season (November to February). One of the worst dengue fever outbreaks in recent Eritrean history occurred during the winter of 2009-10 in Massawa. Asmara, because of its altitude, is generally considered free of these mosquito-borne illnesses. Travelers to the lowlands are urged to carry mosquito repellent and mosquito nets, especially during the rainy season.
Drinking Water Source - % of rural population improved"
56.7%
Drinking Water Source - % of total population unimproved:
39.8%
Drinking Water Source - % of urban population improved:
73.7%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8%
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population:
.7
People Living with HIV/AIDS:
25,000
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population:
.05
Sanitation Facility Access - % of total population unimproved:
86.8%
Sanitation Facility Access - % of urban population improved:
51.6%
Sanitation Facitlity Access - % of rural population improved:
3.5%
Infectious Diseases - degree of risk:
high
Food or Waterborne Disease (s):
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne Disease (s):
malaria and dengue fever