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Mauritania

West 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 — recommended in the south; entry cert from endemic countries

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travelers aged 9 months and older visiting areas south of the Sahara; it is not needed for itineraries limited to the Sahara Desert. Mauritania requires a YF certificate from travelers arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Direct travel from Switzerland is not subject to the entry requirement.

CDC / WHO International Health Regulations ↗ · Updated 2026

Meningitis belt — seasonal meningococcal risk (south)

Southern Mauritania touches the African meningitis belt. Epidemics of meningococcal disease occur during the dry season, roughly December to June. Meningococcal vaccination (quadrivalent ACWY) is recommended for travelers visiting affected areas during this period, for longer stays, and for close contact with the local population.

CDC / EKRM ↗ · Updated 2026

Recent alerts

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Level 1 - Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa

There are outbreaks of diphtheria in several countries in Africa. Vaccination against diphtheria is essential to protect against the disease. Country List : Chad, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Somalia

CDC Travel Health Notices · Jun 2, 2026

Malaria

Moderate

Dengue

Low

Yellow fever

High

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

Cholera

Consider for travelers going to areas of active transmission, aid/relief workers, and those staying in conditions with poor water and sanitation.

CDC Yellow Book

Hepatitis A

Recommended for all travelers to Mauritania. 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 per individual risk and stay duration. Routine in the Swiss childhood schedule since 1998 — younger travelers are usually covered.

CDC Yellow Book

Meningococcal

Quadrivalent ACWY vaccination recommended for travel to the south during the dry season (December–June), for longer stays, and for close contact with the local population.

CDC Yellow Book

Rabies

Consider pre-exposure vaccination for longer stays, rural travel, cyclists/motorbike riders, those working with animals, and children. Post-exposure treatment can be hard to obtain locally.

CDC Yellow Book

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those visiting rural areas, staying with friends and relatives, or in poor hygienic conditions.

CDC Yellow Book

Yellow fever

Recommended for travelers aged 9 months and older visiting areas south of the Sahara; not needed for Sahara-only itineraries. Required for entry if arriving from a YF-risk country. Must be given at a licensed Swiss YF centre ≥10 days before travel.

CDC Yellow Book

Disease-specific guidance

Malaria

Moderate

Malaria is present in nearly all of Mauritania, with the exception of the far-northern Dakhlet Nouadhibou and Tiris Zemmour regions. Risk is highest in the south and concentrates during the rainy season (July–October). Chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum predominates. Discuss chemoprophylaxis based on itinerary and season.

Risk area: All except Dakhlet Nouadhibou & Tiris Zemmour
Season: Peaks in rainy season (Jul–Oct), south
Species: Predominantly P. falciparum
Resistance: Chloroquine-resistant
Prophylaxis: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine

About malaria CDC details

Malaria risk map for this country — Malaria risk areas in Mauritania (CDC).

Yellow fever

High

Yellow fever transmission risk exists in southern Mauritania. Vaccination is recommended for travelers aged 9 months and older going south of the Sahara, and a certificate is required for entry if arriving from a YF-risk country (see country alert).

Status: Risk in the south (south of Sahara)
Recommended: Travelers ≥9 months to the south
Entry rule: Cert required if arriving from YF country

About yellow fever CDC details

Yellow fever risk map for this country — Yellow fever vaccine recommendation areas in Mauritania (CDC).

Dengue

Low

Dengue circulates in Mauritania, transmitted by daytime-biting Aedes mosquitoes. Daytime mosquito-bite prevention is the main protection.

Vector: Aedes mosquitoes — bite during daytime
Prevention: Daytime repellent, covering clothing

About dengue CDC details

General prevention

Food & water

Use bottled or reliably treated water, avoid ice and raw foods from unverified sources, and maintain careful hand hygiene. Healthcare access is limited, so preventing traveler's diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid is a priority.

Mosquito protection

Mosquito-bite prevention is essential, particularly in southern regions where malaria is present and risk concentrates in the rainy season (July–October). Use DEET or picaridin repellent, long clothing, and an insecticide-treated bed net, alongside chemoprophylaxis where indicated. Dengue also circulates.

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?

Build a combined itinerary and get merged recommendations across all destinations.

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.