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Egypt

North Africa · Africa· Physician brief

Polio booster recommended

Vaccine-derived poliovirus has been detected in environmental samples in Egypt. Ensure polio vaccination is up to date — adult travelers who completed primary vaccination should receive a single lifetime booster dose. Documented polio vaccination may be requested at entry for travelers arriving from certain countries.

CDC Yellow Book — Egypt ↗ · Updated 2024

Malaria

None

Dengue

None

Yellow fever

None

Chikungunya

None

Vaccines

VaccineRecommendationReference
Routine vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip — per the Swiss BAG schedule. These include:

BAG Impfplan
Hepatitis A

Risk in Egypt is high. Recommended for all travelers.

CDC Yellow Book
Hepatitis B

Consider per individual risk and stay duration.

CDC Yellow Book
Polio

Booster recommended for adult travelers; documentation may be requested at entry from certain countries.

CDC Yellow Book
Rabies

For long stays, rural travel, occupational animal exposure, or activities with potential animal contact.

CDC Yellow Book
Typhoid

Consider for long-stay travelers, those visiting friends and relatives, or eating outside major tourist hotels.

CDC Yellow Book

Disease-specific guidance

Malaria

None

Egypt was declared malaria-free by the WHO in 2024. Rare imported cases can occur due to ongoing travel from endemic regions and presence of competent vector mosquitoes, but routine chemoprophylaxis is not recommended.

Status
Malaria-free (WHO, 2024)
Last local case
Aswan Governorate, 2014
Prophylaxis
Not recommended

Yellow fever

None

No yellow fever risk in country. A vaccination certificate is required at entry for travelers ≥9 months of age arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk, including airport transits longer than 12 hours in such countries.

Dengue

None

Dengue cases are increasingly reported in Egypt, particularly among returning travelers. No vaccine routinely recommended for travelers without prior dengue infection. Daytime mosquito-bite prevention is the main protection.

General prevention

Food & water

Tap water in most large international tourist hotels is adequately chlorinated, but bottled water is generally provided for drinking. Outside major hotels, tap water is not safe. Avoid raw or undercooked meat and shellfish; the safety of uncooked vegetables and salads is questionable.

Mosquito protection

Daytime and evening mosquito-bite prevention reduces risk of dengue and other vector-borne infections. Use DEET- or picaridin-based repellent and protective clothing.

Sources

Based on CDC Travelers’ Health, CDC Yellow Book, and the Swiss Federal Vaccination Schedule (BAG). Always verify current recommendations before travel.

Visiting more than one country?

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Plan an itinerary

This brief is for informational purposes and does not replace personalized medical advice.
Consult a travel medicine specialist 4–8 weeks before departure.