Eritrea

Recommended Vaccinations For Eritrea

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against the disease.

For Some Travellers

Cholera Vaccine

The U.K. NaTHNaC recommends the oral cholera vaccine for some travellers whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, travelling to areas of active cholera transmission. These risk factors include: aid workers; those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to potable water and medical care; travellers for whom the vaccination would be considered potentially beneficial, such as chronic medical conditions. The U.S. CDC recommends the cholera vaccine for travellers who are 18-64 years of age and who plan to travel to areas of active cholera transmission. CDC notes that most travellers do not travel to areas of active cholera transmission, and that safe food and water practices can prevent many cholera infections.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

There is a low risk of yellow fever transmission in some areas of Eritrea. This country requires a certificate of yellow fever vaccination for all travellers 9 months of age or older if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever virus transmission or if transiting more than 12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of yellow fever virus transmission. Vaccination is generally not recommended for travellers going to the following states: Anseba, Debub, Gash Barka, Mae Kel and Semenawi Keih Bahri. The vaccination is not recommended for all other areas not listed.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

One dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) is recommended to infants 6 to 11 months prior to international travel.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine

A BCG vaccine is recommended for all unvaccinated adults and children under 16 years of age, staying in the country for more than 3 months. A tuberculin skin test is required prior to administering vaccination for all children from 6 years of age.

Meningitis Vaccine

Because this country is located in the sub-Saharan meningitis belt, vaccination against meningitis is recommended if travelling during the dry season (December to June).

Recommended Medications For Eritrea

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Recommended anti-malaria medications include atovaquone-proguanil, mefloquine or doxycycline. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxime-pyrimethamine has been reported.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Eritrea

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Eritrea.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever may occur in this country

Cholera

Cholera outbreaks occur in Eritrea. The risk to travellers is low unless living or working in poor sanitary conditions, drinking untreated water or eating poorly cooked or raw seafood in this country.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Eritrea through contaminated food or water.

Dengue Fever

Outbreaks of dengue fever may occur.

For Some Travellers

Leishmaniasis

There is a risk of acquiring Leishmaniasis in the country. The infection is transmitted by the bite of infected phlebotomine sandfly.

Malaria

All areas of Eritrea at altitudes below 2,200 meters are at high risk for malaria, except Asmara where there is no risk.

African Tick Bite Fever

This disease may occur in the country.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring hantavirus in Eritrea through contaminated food or by coming into contact with someone infected with the virus.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

There is a risk of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever in Eritrea.

West Nile Fever

The virus is transmitted to animals, birds and humans by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, and skin rash.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Commonly spread via contact with domesticated animals infected with the virus. These include cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels, among others.

Sleeping Sickness (Type 1)

African trypanosomiasis occurs in Eritrea. Travellers to urban areas are not at risk.

Measles

There is a risk of exposure to measles in the country.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in Eritrea. Travellers to Eritrea are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Meningitis

Meningitis outbreaks may occur in Eritrea. Travellers who visit during the dry season (December to June) or expect to have prolonged contact with the local population are especially at risk.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Eritrea, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Schistosomiasis

This disease is present in this country and is acquired through contact with fresh water, such as swimming, bathing, or rafting. Well-chlorinated swimming pools and contact with saltwater in oceans or seas will not put travellers at risk for schistosomiasis.

Yellow Fever

There is a low risk of yellow fever transmission in some areas of Eritrea. This country requires a certificate of yellow fever vaccination for all travellers 9 months of age or older if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever virus transmission or if transiting more than 12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of yellow fever virus transmission. Vaccination is generally not recommended for travellers going to the following states: Anseba, Debub, Gash Barka, Mae Kel and Semenawi Keih Bahri. The vaccination is not recommended for all other areas not listed.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in Eritrea. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in Eritrea

Personal Safety

Asmara is relatively safe compared to many African capitals, with violent crime against foreigners remaining extremely rare. Street crime including pickpocketing exists but occurs less frequently than in many European cities. You can walk around central Asmara from morning until midnight, though you should avoid isolated areas at night. Petty theft happens in crowded places like markets, bus stops, and tourist landmarks. A large proportion of citizens have access to firearms through the government’s civilian militia programme, but this has not increased violent crime rates. Street crime increases after dark across the country. Crime rates overall are remarkably low, with robbery and mugging uncommon even in urban areas. However, travel restrictions apply outside Asmara. You need permits to travel beyond Zoba Maekel province, and applications can take several days with no guarantee of approval. Authorities require you to carry identification at all times. Keep a copy of your passport photo page with you and store the original securely. Internet access is severely restricted, limited mainly to hotels and a few internet cafes. Mobile networks are unreliable outside Asmara and international SIM cards do not work. You need a residence permit to buy a local SIM card, which takes several weeks to obtain. Government surveillance of communications is reported.

Extreme Violence

Terrorism has no recent history in Eritrea and attacks remain unlikely. The country has not experienced terrorist incidents in recent years. However, kidnapping is a risk throughout Eritrea and can happen anywhere at any time. Border areas with Sudan face high threats of robbery and violence from bandits and insurgents, including bomb attacks. Armed groups operate in and around border areas. The Southern Red Sea area is a hotspot for maritime crime with significant piracy risk in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Maritime vessels entering Eritrean waters without permission have been impounded and crews detained. The region faces ongoing military activity related to Houthi militants disrupting shipping in the Red Sea, though activity remains limited to the Red Sea and Yemen. Tensions remain high along all borders with increased risk of missile or rocket attacks. Border crossings with Ethiopia are closed and the border remains heavily militarized despite the 2018 peace agreement. Armed confrontations and military activities could occur along the Djibouti border due to ongoing territorial conflicts. The security situation near all borders remains volatile and could change rapidly without notice.

Political Unrest

Eritrea has had no elections since independence in 1993. The unelected president has ruled continuously since then under a single-party system. No legislature has met since 2010. The government maintains an iron grip on the population with no free press, civil society organizations, or political opposition allowed. Political repression is systematic and widespread. The constitution drafted in 1997 was never implemented. Freedom of speech, expression, assembly, and association are severely restricted. Demonstrations are extremely rare due to heavy government control. Any protests are quashed without mercy. Citizens cannot speak out against the government and fear reprisal. Political prisoners and prisoners of conscience number in the thousands, held without charge or trial, often incommunicado for years. Journalists have been imprisoned since 2001 without charges. The government enforces indefinite mandatory military and national service, conducting mass conscription drives targeting alleged draft evaders. Authorities collectively punish families of draft evaders by seizing property, businesses, and livestock without due process. The government engages in transnational repression, using embassies abroad to monitor, threaten, and harass diaspora members who criticize the regime. Security forces have authority to arrest civilians and enforce arbitrary detentions. Authorities enter homes without notice or explanation. Additional security measures may be introduced at short notice throughout the country.

Areas To Avoid

Stay at least 25 kilometers away from all land borders. The Ethiopia border remains heavily militarized with landmines found throughout the border zone. All Ethiopia border crossings are closed. Military forces from both countries remain deployed along border areas where crossing is prohibited. Tensions remain high with increased risk of missile and rocket attacks. Specific dangerous border towns include Tsorona, Humera, and Zalambessa. The Southern Red Sea region including the port of Assab should be avoided. Do not travel to the border regions with Sudan, particularly the towns of Tessenae and Barentu and areas north and west of Agordat, Nakfa, and Barentu. Armed bandits and insurgents operate along the Sudan border with high threats of robbery, violence, and bomb attacks. Conflict in Sudan since 2023 has created additional instability. Stay at least 25 kilometers from the Djibouti border where territorial conflicts and political tensions persist since 2008. Armed confrontations and military activities could occur. Crime and banditry are more common in all border areas and along the coast north of Massawa. Landmines and unexploded ordnance contaminate areas near Massawa, Ghinda, Agordat, Barentu, south of Tessenae, Nakfa, Adi Keih, Arezza, Dekemhare, and the roughly 40-kilometer wide region between the Setit and Mereb Rivers near the Ethiopian border. Areas north and west of Keren also contain minefields. Walking and hiking in rural areas is dangerous. New minefields continue to be discovered. Borders are often unmarked and unclear in most places.