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Yemen

Western Asia · Asia · 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.

Ongoing cholera outbreak

Yemen continues to report one of the highest cholera burdens in the world, sustained by conflict-damaged water and sanitation infrastructure. Strict safe food and water precautions are essential; cholera vaccination should be discussed with a travel clinic for travelers going to areas of active transmission, aid/relief workers, or longer stays.

WHO EMRO / CDC ↗ · Updated 2026

Conflict and very limited healthcare

Yemen is affected by ongoing armed conflict, with severely limited medical care and evacuation options. Most governments advise against all travel. This brief covers health risks only and does not constitute travel-security advice — consult the Swiss FDFA (EDA) travel advisories before any travel.

EKRM / Swiss FDFA (EDA) ↗ · Updated 2026

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Level 2 - Malaria in Yemen

Increased cases of malaria have been reported in Yemen, including in areas that were previously considered low-risk.

CDC Travel Health Notices · Jun 11, 2026

Malaria

High

Dengue

Moderate

Yellow fever

None

Chikungunya

Low

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

Vaccination may be considered for adults and children travelling to areas of active cholera transmission, aid/relief workers, and longer stays, given the large ongoing outbreak.

CDC Yellow Book

Hepatitis A

Recommended for all unvaccinated travelers aged 1 year or older. 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 given limited healthcare and the possibility of unscreened medical care. Routine in the Swiss childhood schedule since 1998 — younger travelers are usually covered.

CDC Yellow Book

Rabies

Consider pre-exposure vaccination for long stays or high individual risk, particularly where post-exposure treatment may be unavailable due to limited healthcare.

CDC Yellow Book

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying in rural areas or in conditions with poor water and sanitation.

CDC Yellow Book

Disease-specific guidance

Malaria

High

Widespread risk at all elevations below 2,500 m (8,200 ft), predominantly chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Chemoprophylaxis (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or tafenoquine) is recommended for travel to risk areas, alongside strict mosquito-bite prevention. Higher-elevation areas above 2,500 m are no-risk.

Risk area: All elevations below 2,500 m
Species: Mainly P. falciparum
Resistance: Chloroquine-resistant
No risk: Above 2,500 m
Prevention: Chemoprophylaxis + bite prevention

About malaria CDC details

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

Yellow fever

None

No yellow fever risk in Yemen. Vaccination is not recommended for direct travel from Switzerland and is not an entry requirement.

About yellow fever CDC details

Dengue

Moderate

Dengue is transmitted by daytime-biting mosquitoes and occurs across the country. Daytime mosquito-bite prevention is the main protection and overlaps with malaria precautions.

Mosquito: Aedes aegypti — bites during daytime
Prevention: Repellent, long sleeves, bed net

About dengue CDC details

General prevention

Food & water

Strict food and water precautions are essential given the large ongoing cholera outbreak: drink only bottled, boiled, or reliably treated water, avoid ice, and eat thoroughly cooked food. These measures also reduce the risk of traveler's diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid. Healthcare access is severely limited by the ongoing conflict.

Mosquito protection

Rigorous mosquito protection is essential — Yemen has widespread malaria risk below 2,500 m as well as dengue, so use DEET or picaridin repellent, long sleeves, and an insecticide-treated bed net, and protect both during the day (dengue) and at dawn/dusk (malaria). Sand-fly bite precautions also reduce the risk of leishmaniasis.

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.