Information for Travelers to Tajikistan
Health Situation and Medical Information
Health Situation (restrictions, medical care)
The quality of Tajikistan’s medical infrastructure is significantly below Western standards, with shortages of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics. Many trained medical personnel left the country during and following the civil war. Elderly travelers and those with pre-existing health problems may be at particular risk due to inadequate medical facilities.
Significant disease outbreaks are possible due to population shifts and a decline in some immunization coverage among the general population. There have been outbreaks of typhoid in the Dushanbe area and in the south, and the risk of contracting malaria, cholera, and water-borne illnesses is high. Throughout Central Asia, rates of infection of various forms of hepatitis and tuberculosis (including drug-resistant strains) are on the rise. It is advised to drink only bottled or thoroughly-boiled water while in Tajikistan.
Food and waterborne diseases are the number one cause of illness in travelers. Viruses, bacteria, or parasites that contaminate food or water can cause a Travelers’ diarrhea. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting, fever or liver damage (hepatitis). Make sure your food and drinking water are safe.
Malaria is a fatal, but preventable infection. Your risk of malaria may be high in these countries, including cities. Prevent this deadly disease by seeing your health care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug and by protecting yourself against mosquito bites. All travelers to malaria-risk areas in Eastern Europe, including infants, children, and former residents of Eastern Europe, are at risk for malaria. Parts of the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have malaria risk. Travelers to malaria-risk areas in Tajikistan, should take the antimalarial drug chloroquine to prevent malaria.
Once in Dushanbe, it is not recommended to drink tap water. Bottled still and mineral water is available at any grocery store. Fruits and vegetables bought in local market should be washed thoroughly.
For American travelers, registering at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe makes your presence and whereabouts known, in case it is necessary for a consular officer to contact you in an emergency.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith. Pandemic and avian flu information is available at http://www.pandemicflu.gov. Be sure to check State Department’s Travel page http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad.html. Medical information for Americans traveling abroad is located at http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_health.html
Finding Help
If you require medical attention, you can contact a consular officer for a list of local doctors. If you are injured or become seriously ill, a consul will help you find medical assistance and, at your request, inform your family or friends. Please be advised that, should medical evacuation be necessary, a medical evacuation from Tajikistan to the United States may cost well more than $50,000 and all costs will be borne by the American Citizen. Therefore, international medical evacuation insurance is strongly advised. For more information on Emergency Services to U.S. Citizens Abroad please visit the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A hotline at (404) 332-4559 gives the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280, price $14.00) is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.