Morocco - Fit for Travel (2024)

Advice for All Destinations Vaccinations Malaria Other Health Risks News

Vaccinations

• Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including for example, seasonal flu vaccine and COVID-19 (if eligible), MMR, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
• Courses or boosters usually advised: Hepatitis A; Tetanus.
• Other vaccines to consider: Rabies; Typhoid.
• Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Hepatitis B.

• No yellow fever vaccination certificate required for this country.

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

• Hepatitis A:&nbsp spread by consuming food or drinks that contain the virus (i.e. become contaminated by infected poo), or by touching things or people that have infected poo on them, and then touching your mouth.

  Risk is higher if travelling to countries where there hepatitis A is circulating in the local population, or to areas where personal hygiene and sanitation is poor.

  Risk is highest for those with underlying medical conditions where there is increased risk of developing severe disease e.g. liver/kidney disease; haemophilia (clotting disorder); and for men who have sex with men; people who inject drugs; those at risk of exposure through their jobs.

• Hepatitis B:&nbsp spread through exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids. Occurs from sexual contact or contact with contaminated needles and medical instruments (e.g. dental / medical procedures, tattooing, body piercing, sharing intravenous needles). Mothers with the virus can also transmit the infection to their baby during childbirth.

  Risk is higher for those visiting more frequently, staying longer, visiting friends and relatives, children through bites, cuts and scratches and those who may require medical treatment during travel.

  Risk is highest for those with underlying medical conditions where there is increased risk of severe disease e.g. chronic liver/kidney disease; haemophiliacs (clotting disorder) and in men who have sex with men; people who change sexual partners frequently; and people who inject drugs.

• Rabies:&nbsp spread through the saliva of infected animals (especially dogs, cats, bats and monkeys), usually through a bite, scratch or lick to broken skin. Risk is higher for those working or living in remote or rural areas (with no easy access to medical facilities), longer stay travellers, those planning on undertaking activities such as trekking, cycling or running in a 'high risk' country, those working with, or regularly handling animals or bats, as part of their job, and children.

  Urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal bite, scratch or lick to broken skin, or bat bite, even after receiving pre-travel rabies vaccine.

• Tetanus:&nbsp spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.
• Typhoid:&nbsp spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited.

Malaria

• Malaria not normally present unless the illness was contracted abroad.

Other Health Risks

Altitude and Travel

This country has either areas with high altitude (2400m or more) or/and areas with very high altitude (3658m or more). Travellers who may go into areas of high altitude should take care to avoid ill effects of being at altitude including Acute Mountain Sickness, a potentially life-threatening condition. For further information see Altitude and Travel.

Dengue Fever

A viral illness that is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. The mosquito that spreads dengue bites during the day and is more common in urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, severe joint, bone and muscular pain - hence its other name 'breakbone fever'. There is no vaccine and prevention is through avoidance of mosquito bites. For further information see Dengue Fever.

Schistosomiasis

A parasitic infection (also known as bilharzia) that is transmitted to humans through contact with fresh water. The parasite enters humans through the skin and prevention is dependant on avoidance of swimming, bathing or paddling in fresh water lakes and streams. For further information see Schistosomiasis.

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