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Gabon

Central Africa · Africa · Physician brief

📝Draft — pending physician review
📝Draft — pending physician review. This brief was compiled from CDC, WHO, and EKRM/HealthyTravel sources (June 2026) and has not yet been verified by a clinician. Confirm specifics with a travel-medicine professional before relying on it.

Yellow fever vaccination certificate required for entry

Gabon requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for all arriving travelers aged 9 months and older, regardless of where they travel from. Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card). The vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival to be valid, and in Switzerland is only available at approved yellow-fever vaccination centres.

CDC / WHO IHR yellow fever requirements · Updated 2026

Malaria

High

Dengue

Moderate

Yellow fever

High

Chikungunya

Moderate

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
Cholera

Oral vaccination may be considered for high-risk travelers (humanitarian/healthcare work, prolonged stays in areas with poor sanitation or active outbreaks).

CDC Yellow Book
Hepatitis A

Recommended for all travelers. Note for Swiss travelers: Hepatitis A is not part of the routine Swiss BAG childhood schedule, so most adult travelers will need vaccination.

CDC Yellow Book
Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers. Routine in the Swiss childhood schedule since 1998, so younger travelers are usually covered; older travelers should check their status.

CDC Yellow Book
Rabies

Rabid dogs are common in Gabon and post-exposure treatment can be hard to obtain. Pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for long stays, remote travel, cyclists/bikers, animal workers, and young children.

CDC Yellow Book
Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers given widespread food and water exposure, especially those visiting rural areas, staying with friends or relatives, or on longer trips.

CDC Yellow Book
Yellow fever

Required for entry (certificate checked, ≥9 months) AND medically recommended — Gabon is yellow-fever endemic. Single dose gives lifelong protection; must be given ≥10 days before arrival. In Switzerland, available only at approved yellow-fever vaccination centres.

CDC Yellow Book

Disease-specific guidance

Malaria

High

High risk in all areas year-round, including Libreville and forested interior regions. P. falciparum predominates and is chloroquine-resistant. Continuous antimalarial chemoprophylaxis (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or tafenoquine) is recommended for all travelers, combined with strict mosquito-bite prevention.

Risk
High, all areas, year-round
Species
Mainly P. falciparum
Resistance
Chloroquine-resistant
Prevention
Chemoprophylaxis + bite protection for all travelers

Yellow fever

High

Gabon is yellow-fever endemic and the vaccine is medically recommended for all travelers ≥9 months. A vaccination certificate is also REQUIRED for entry (all arrivals ≥9 months). Vaccinate at least 10 days before arrival; see the country alert above.

Risk
Endemic (vaccine recommended)
Entry rule
Certificate required, ≥9 months
Timing
≥10 days before arrival
Yellow fever vaccine recommendation areas in Africa (CDC).

Dengue

Moderate

Dengue is present and transmitted by daytime-biting Aedes mosquitoes, with periodic outbreaks. Daytime mosquito-bite prevention (repellent, covering clothing) is the main protection; this also reduces other arboviral risks including Zika and chikungunya.

Distribution
Present countrywide
Mosquito
Aedes — bites during daytime
Prevention
Daytime bite protection

Chikungunya

Moderate

Chikungunya is present with a history of outbreaks in Gabon, sharing the same daytime Aedes vector as dengue and Zika — so dengue prevention also protects against it. Vaccination may be considered in outbreak settings (see EKRM statement).

Distribution
Present; past outbreaks
Mosquito
Aedes — bites during daytime
Prevention
Daytime bite protection

General prevention

Food & water

Strict food and water precautions are essential. Use bottled or treated water, avoid ice and raw produce, and eat only thoroughly cooked food. These measures reduce traveler's diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid. Avoid wading or swimming in fresh water (schistosomiasis risk).

Mosquito protection

Aggressive mosquito-bite prevention is essential — chloroquine-resistant malaria risk is high year-round and country-wide, and antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended for all travelers. Dengue and Zika are also present. Use DEET or picaridin repellent, cover up, and sleep under an insecticide-treated net.

Sources

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

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