Algeria

Recommended Vaccinations For Algeria

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

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

Hepatitis A Vaccine

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

For Some Travellers

Polio Vaccine

A single lifetime booster dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is recommended for adults who received the routine polio vaccination series as children.

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.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for 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.

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, rural areas, or staying with friends and family.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

There is no risk for yellow fever in this country. This country requires all persons over one year of age to have proof of the yellow fever vaccination if arriving from a country where yellow fever occurs or if transiting more than 12 hours in an airport located in a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.

Recommended Medications For Algeria

There are no recommendations for Algeria at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Algeria

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B

There is a high risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Algeria.

Hepatitis A

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

For Some Travellers

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.

Polio

There is a risk of acquiring Polio in the country and is transmitted from one person to another when droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person gets into the mouth of another person.

Leishmaniasis

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

Hanta Virus

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

Measles

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

Yellow Fever

There is no risk for yellow fever in this country. This country requires all persons over one year of age to have proof of the yellow fever vaccination if arriving from a country where yellow fever occurs or if transiting more than 12 hours in an airport located in a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to Algeria 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.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people are at significant risk for typhoid through the consumption of contaminated food and water in Algeria. The risk is greater when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas and staying with friends or relatives.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in Algeria. 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.

Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is found in Algeria. There is a very low risk to travelers.

Safety & Security in Algeria

Personal Safety

Petty crime and theft are common in Algeria, particularly in downtown Algiers. Avoid showing signs of wealth and keep valuables out of sight to avoid being targeted. Keep your belongings in sight at all times. Theft on trains and buses and theft from parked cars and hotel rooms does occur. Travel documents should be kept secure at all times.

Women travelling alone in Algeria may experience harassment and verbal abuse.

Same-sex relations and behaviours are illegal. All travellers should avoid open displays of affection due to the conservative nature of the country. Dress modestly in respect for the country’s customs. Take note of whether you will be travelling during Ramadan. If travelling during this time, do not eat, drink or smoke in public between sunrise and sunset.

Road travel is dangerous in Algeria and should be avoided. Internal travel throughout the country should be done by air. Attacks occur at night in rural and remote areas and on public transportation outside of the cities. Travel within Algiers and main cities is generally safe, but exercise caution, particularly at night. Avoid using public transportation, as they have been targeted by terrorists and thieves.

Extreme Violence

While terrorist violence has decreased, terrorist incidents still occur across the country and have resulted in death and injury. There are ongoing threats against Algerian institutions, Westerners, and Western institutions.

Kidnapping is a serious threat in this country, especially outside city centres.

Political Unrest

While demonstrations in Algeria are generally peaceful, some have become violent in the past. Minimize safety risk by avoiding public gatherings and demonstrations. Demonstrations are illegal in Algiers.

Areas To Avoid

Avoid all travel to the border areas with Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Libya, and Tunisia. There is a serious threat of kidnapping, terrorism, and banditry.