sandi

Latest Update

TO: ALL TATO MEMBERS,

We have received the following clarification on Yellow Fever
requirements from the National Focal Person on International Health
Requirement in the Ministry of Health (Mr. Noah Mwasalujonja) that inoculation against Yellow Fever is required for travellers arriving from the Yellow Fever Endemic Zone which include the following Countries:
Senegal, Gambia, Guines Bissau
, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D’Ivore, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Togo, Benin, Sao Tome and Principe, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, United Republic of Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Somali, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea
South America: Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Bolivia

As an update please note that:-

- Travelers who happen to be on transit in any of the Yellow Fever
Endemic Countries will be exempted from the requirement of inoculation
against Yellow Fever;
Transit means remaining at the Airport under the Management of Airport Authority awaiting travel connection.

- Presently Inoculation service, in case required upon entry in Tanzania, will be offered FREE OF CHARGE.

Hope this helps clarify.

ShayTay

Thanks, Sandi. Do you know if Zanzibar would require a YF inoculation if arriving from mainland Tanzania? There were some issues about that in past years.

aowens

Sandi - I received an email this morning from our tour operator in Nairobi for our upcoming Kenya and Tanzania trip. Here is what he said about this topic:

"We have been advised that all travelers entering Tanzania must now carry a valid yellow fever certificate. Before it wasn't mandatory unless visitors seeking to enter Tanzania were arriving from or via an infected area having passed through that area by any other means than a scheduled flight.

From April 2008, the Ministry of East African Community demands that all foreigners, including visitors from East African countries, be vaccinated against the disease. The vaccination against Yellow fever should be administered at least ten days prior to traveling to Tanzania."

Just thought I'd pass it along. This is what the folks on the ground are saying. The National Focal Person I am sure is correct, but I wonder if the actual immigration people are doing something different? I guess I'll find out when I get there as I have had the shot already. I will be interested to see if they ask for the card or not since differing statements.

Ann

divewop

When I flew into Tanzania from Rwanda back in January, I had to show my YF certification/vaccination card so I would advise keeping it handy.

sandi

Sharon -

Absolutely if going to Zanzibar from mainland Tanzania - Yellow Fever inoc is required.

Even if having arrived direct from US via Europe to Tanzania, wherein you wouldn't need the YF inoc, you (and even Tanzanian mainland residents) must have YF to enter Zanzibar or Pemba or Mafia.

This had been the rule up to about 2003/04, when the rule was lifted. Then as mid-Jan '08, these health requirements/YF inoc were reinstituted.

Ann - As the US, Canada and most European countries are NOT YF endemic areas, if arriving direct to Tanzania, YF inoc is not required. If landing in Nairobi with immediate connection to Tanzania, as stated above, YF inoc is not required for US, Canadian, European visitors. If landing in Nairobi and overnighting or traveling by road thru Kenya (as stated above), you will require the YF inoc as Kenya is one of the countries listed above.

Also, if by chance when departing Tanzania and not going directly home, rather to a country such as South Africa, you will require the YF inoc to enter SA.

Always check the entry requirements - visas, meds, inoculations, other - for every country on a particular itinerary.

Remember - the YF inoc, though expensive, is good for 10/years and if you can you should be inoculated, just to be on the safe side and not have to think about it for as long as the inoc is effective. Tetanus and Hep-A are also good for 10/years; the Polio booster should last the rest of your life.