Travel vaccinations for Egypt: requirements, recommendations, dengue and hygiene

Egypt requires no vaccinations if you arrive directly from Germany. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) recommends hepatitis A for all travellers and complete routine vaccination, particularly against measles and polio. Further vaccinations only matter for longer stays or particular exposure. For most holidaymakers, food hygiene and, on the Red Sea, protection against mosquitoes are more important than vaccinations.

Entry rules: yellow fever and polio when arriving from other countries

According to the Foreign Office, you do not need yellow fever vaccination for direct arrival from Germany. Things are different if you have been in another country first. Egypt requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from everyone aged nine months and over who arrives from a yellow fever country or spent more than 12 hours in transit there. The Foreign Office also lists Eritrea, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Zambia. Travellers without proof may be quarantined for up to six days.

Egypt also requires proof of polio vaccination, according to the Foreign Office, from everyone arriving from the DR Congo, Kenya, Niger or Syria. The vaccination must fall within a set period before entry and be recorded in the International Certificate of Vaccination. Our guide to the vaccination certificate explains what this proof looks like.

This is mainly relevant if you combine Egypt with a safari in East Africa, so mention the order of your destinations during your consultation.

Recommended vaccinations according to the Foreign Office

The table at the top of this page shows the classification. In context:

• All travellers: hepatitis A.
• Routine vaccinations: check that you are up to date with the STIKO schedule, the official German vaccination calendar. The Foreign Office highlights measles protection and complete polio protection. Your doctor will check whether a booster is due.
• Long stays or particular exposure: hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, meningococcal ACWY and dengue.

Dengue vaccination has a particular rule in Germany: STIKO only recommends it for travellers who have had a confirmed dengue infection in the past. Your travel health consultation will clarify whether it is an option for you at all.

Dengue, mosquitoes and malaria

According to the Foreign Office, dengue viruses are transmitted on the Red Sea coast, mainly in Hurghada and occasionally in El Gouna and Al-Qusair. Infections have also been reported in South Sinai around Sharm El-Sheikh. The mosquitoes that carry dengue bite during the day, so protect yourself mainly in daytime with repellent and covering clothing. The Foreign Office notes that complications in travellers are rare overall. Our guide to dengue and mosquito protection has more on avoiding bites.

The Foreign Office does not mention malaria for Egypt. According to the WHO, no locally acquired cases have been reported since 1998 and no prevention is recommended. The Foreign Office reports that leishmaniasis and West Nile fever occur.

Diarrhoea and EHEC: the most common problem

The Foreign Office describes diarrhoeal illness as the most common travel complaint in Egypt. In recent years there have been repeated reports of EHEC infections, particularly after stays in Hurghada and Marsa Alam. A possible complication is haemolytic uraemic syndrome, which can affect the kidneys. The main sources are raw fruit and vegetables and undercooked beef and lamb.

How to reduce the risk, following Foreign Office advice:

• Drink only water from a safe source, never tap water, and use it for brushing your teeth too.
• Avoid undercooked food and peel or cook fruit and vegetables.
• Wash your hands with soap often, especially before eating.
• Keep flies away from your food.

The Nile, blood contact and other risks

Do not swim in fresh water, particularly in the Nile Delta, the Nile Valley and its tributaries, because bilharzia (schistosomiasis) can be transmitted there. Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood and there is no vaccine. Take care with piercings, tattoos, shaving and manicures. The Foreign Office reports a low HIV prevalence, but unprotected contact still carries a risk.

What depends on your type of trip

Medical care in Egypt

Adequate care is available in Cairo. Elsewhere, the Foreign Office says it often falls short of Western European standards, even in the main tourist centres. Doctors’ and hospital bills can be very high, including for hotel doctors and minor treatment, and most clinics require payment upfront or confirmation of cost coverage. Take out travel health insurance with repatriation cover and check beforehand whether pre-existing conditions are included. Protect your travel health kit from high temperatures.

Timing: worth it even at short notice

Egypt is often booked spontaneously. Advice is still worthwhile, as routine vaccinations can usually be checked at short notice. STIKO and DTG recommend completing travel vaccinations at least two weeks before departure. Our guide to last-minute travel explains what is still possible when time is short. You can find a practice in Germany in our directory of travel clinics, and the travel vaccine check gives a quick overview.