Facilities and Health Information:
Abidjan has privately-run medical and dental facilities that are adequate, but do not fully meet U.S. standards. Good physician specialists can be found, although few speak English. While pharmacies are well-stocked with medications produced in Europe, newer drugs may not be available. If you plan a lengthy trip to Côte d’Ivoire, you should bring enough medication to last the entire stay, not just a prescription, in your carry-on luggage. Medical care outside of Abidjan is extremely limited.
Malaria is a serious health problem in Côte d’Ivoire. All of the following antimalarial drugs are effective options for preventing malaria in Côte d'Ivoire: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. Note: Chloroquine is NOT an effective antimalarial drug in Côte d'Ivoire and should not be taken to prevent malaria in this region. Remember to start malaria prophylaxis treatment prior to arriving in country. Bring enough medications with you for the duration of your stay since you might not readily find the medications locally. For more information on malaria, including protective measures, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site.
Dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness), and African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) are other diseases carried by insects that also occur in Côte d’Ivoire. Protecting yourself against insect bites will help to prevent these diseases. There are yearly cholera outbreaks. The risk of contracting acute watery diarrhea or cholera can be significantly reduced by drinking purified water, bleaching produce, and eating meat and seafood that are thoroughly cooked and hot.
Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Côte d’Ivoire. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB.
Drinking Water Source - % of rural population improved"
67.8%
Drinking Water Source - % of total population unimproved:
19.8%
Drinking Water Source - % of urban population improved:
91.5%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.4%
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population:
.4
People Living with HIV/AIDS:
450,000
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population:
.14
Diseases - note:
highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds
Sanitation Facility Access - % of total population unimproved:
78.1%
Sanitation Facility Access - % of urban population improved:
32.7%
Sanitation Facitlity Access - % of rural population improved:
10%
Infectious Diseases - degree of risk:
very high
Animal Contact Disease (s):
rabies
Food or Waterborne Disease (s):
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Respiratory disease (s):
meningococcal meningitis
Vectorborne Disease (s):
malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
Water contact disease (s):
schistosomiasis