South Sudan

Recommended Vaccinations For South Sudan

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.

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

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

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for all travellers over 6 months 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).

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.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

This country requires all persons to have proof of the yellow fever vaccination if arriving from a country where yellow fever occurs.

Recommended Medications For South Sudan

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Recommended anti-malaria medications include atovaquone-proguanil, mefloquine or doxycycline. Resistance to chloroquine is widespread.

Diseases To Be Aware of for South Sudan

For Most Travellers

Dengue Fever

Outbreaks of dengue fever may occur.

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in South Sudan.

Hepatitis A

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

Cholera

Cholera outbreaks occur in South Sudan. 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.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

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.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Sporadic outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) may occur in this country. Commonly spread via contact with domesticated animals infected with the virus. These include cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels, among others.

Monkeypox

There is a risk of mpox in the country. The disease can be caused by being scratched or bitten by an infected animal (a rodent or primate), or touching animal products, including skins and meat and being near an infected person who is coughing or sneezing.

Ebola Viral Disease

There is a risk of ebola in this country. Ebola is caused by coming into contact with the body fluids from an infected person (alive or dead), such as blood, urine, saliva, and sweat, among others. Medical equipment contaminated with the boly fluids of an infected person or a person who died of Ebola or Marburg also cause the disease.

Leishmaniasis

There is a risk of acquiring Leishmaniasis in this country through sand fly bites, particularly between dusk to dawn. Adventure tourists, outdoor athletes, or humanitarian aid workers are at a higher risk.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

There is a risk of acquiring Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in this country through specific insect, bug or tick bites or by coming in close contact with a person or animal infected with this disease. Travellers involved in activities like hiking, camping, working with animals, and visiting farms and forested areas are at a higher risk. There are no vaccinations (or medications) to prevent Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever.

African Tick Bite Fever

This disease may occur in this country. Ticks that cause this disease are usually most active from November through April. Travellers engaging in outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and game hunting in wooded, brushy, or grassy areas may be at a higher risk.

Schistosomiasis

There is a very low risk of schistosomiasis in this country. It can be 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.

Measles

There is a risk of Measles in this country, especially in infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Malaria

There is a high risk of malaria in South Sudan.

Yellow Fever

There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in all areas of this country. This country requires all persons to have proof of the yellow fever vaccination if arriving from a country where yellow fever occurs.

Sleeping Sickness (Type 1)

There is an increased risk for travellers spending a lot of time outdoors or visiting game parks. Travellers to urban areas are not at risk.

Typhoid Fever

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

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in South Sudan. Travellers to South Sudan 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 South Sudan. Travellers who visit during the dry season (December to June) or expect to have prolonged contact with the local population are especially at risk.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in the South Sudan. 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 South Sudan

Personal Safety

Petty crime is common in this country in the urban areas, and banditry occurs in rural areas. There is a risk of violent crime in South Sudan, including carjacking, armed robbery, kidnapping and assault. It is recommended that groups travel with a minimum of two vehicles for backup.

Exercise extreme care for personal safety and security in all part of this country. Many countries warn citizens to avoid all travel to South Sudan due to criminal activity, political unrest and armed conflict. Some countries impose a curfew on their embassy staff for safety considerations and require staff to travel about the city only in armoured vehicles. Your country’s embassy may be limited in the support services it can provide to you.

Land mines are a risk in South Sudan, including in and around the capital, Juba. Stay on main roads. If an area has been marked free of land mines, make sure a competent de-mining company has done the work.

Road travel is dangerous in South Sudan due to attacks, lack of infrastructure, and poor road condition. Roads may be impassable during rainy season. In dry season, there is an increased risk of attack and robbery. Vehicles may be in poor condition, including public transportation vehicles. Drivers may not follow rules of the road.

Extreme Violence

Violent crime is widespread.

Political Unrest

There is a risk of violent political unrest and armed conflict in South Sudan. Avoid areas around all protests, demonstrations or rallies. There is a risk of foreigners being targeted in retaliation for other international occurrences.

Areas To Avoid

Avoid border areas with Sudan. Tensions exist due to disputes over territory and borders with the risk of direct military conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. There is risk of civil unrest and inter-ethnic violence.

There is a serious risk of attacks and large-scale military confrontations in the areas of Upper Nile, Unity, Northern Warrap, and Jonglei. Oil installations and surrounding areas are potential targets for attacks.

Also in the Jonglei state, an ongoing cattle-raiding dispute between rival ethnic groups has left hundreds of people dead and some 100,000 displaced since 2011.

Avoid border areas with Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR). The areas are very dangerous and volatile, and armed groups are active in these areas.

In the past, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was active in the western regions of South Sudan, especially in the Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria and Western Bahr El Ghazal states. Many people were killed or abducted, and thousands have been displaced as a result of conflict.