Health Tips for Travelling to Armenia

When travelling to any country outside your continent, it is essential that you ensure that you are as safe as possible – whether you are travelling independently or with your family.  Safety normally begins with ensuring you have the appropriate vaccinations and insurance in preparation for your trip.  Therefore, reading through the following advice and information should help you plan to both protect your health and cover your health during your trip.

Health Care

Vaccinations

The information given on different websites about vaccinations is conflicting – some say that you do not need any vaccinations for travelling in Armenia, some recommend certain vaccinations and some recommend certain vaccinations for visiting certain areas.  From a common sense point of view, you would be wise to visit your GP/doctor at least 8 weeks before you travel and discuss/arrange for the following vaccinations:

·         Tetanus-diptheria – if you have not had this immunisation within the last 10 years.
·         Hepatitis A
·         Typhoid – if you intend to eat or drink anywhere other than the major hotels or restaurants.
·         Hepatitis B
·         Polio – if you had the series of injections as a child, but have not had one-time booster as an adult.
·         Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – two doses, if not previously administered.
·         Cholera – if you are considered to be a high risk.

Insurance

You should always purchase travel insurance as soon as you have booked your holiday.  However, the doctors and hospitals in Armenia will expect cash payment for their services, so, in terms of health insurance there are certain things that you should be aware of and asking questions about when purchasing.  If you have an existing travel insurance policy, make sure that it covers travel to Armenia; check that your policy covers emergency situations, such as medical evacuation; and double check as to whether payment will be directly made to the overseas provider of medical care or whether you will be reimbursed for incurred expenses upon return.

Disease and Medication

If you take any medication regularly, then you must ensure that you take enough with you, in its original container(s), to cover the period of your visit.  Pack your medication in your hand luggage and carry a letter from your GP/doctor explaining what medical condition(s) you have and what medication(s) you require for these; if you need needles or syringes then you will need an additional letter to document the necessity of these.  Also, ensure that you are carrying a duplicate of all medication(s) in your checked-in luggage, just in case. 

If you have any significant allergies or any chronic medical issues, then please make sure you wear a medical/medic alert bracelet with the details of these inside.

Diarrhoea is generally the most common ailment reported for those travelling to Armenia.  The water is considered to be very clean and safe from sources that have been chemically disinfected, or if the water has been boiled or filtered.  However, it is always better to be safe than sorry and you should:

·         avoid bottled drinks or beverages with ice;

·         avoid fruits and vegetables which are not peeled or cooked;

·         stay away from cooked foodstuff which is not piping hot or which have been left at room temperature for a significant period of time;

·         avoid milk that has not been pasteurised or milk products made from milk that has not been pasteurised;

·         stay away from food sold by street vendors; and

·         ensure you do not eat raw or uncooked fish or meat (some fish may be harmful even when cooked, such as barracuda, red snapper, grouper, amberjack and sea bass).

To be fair, no matter how careful you are, sometimes you can still contract diarrhoea.  With this in mind, it makes perfect sense to take an antibiotic and anti-diarrhoeal drug with you on your travels.  Again, it would be wise to discuss which of these would be suitable for you, or members of your family, with your doctor prior to travelling.

Malaria is only an issue if you are planning to travel to the Ararat Valley, in the Ararat and Artashat region, located in the west of Armenia near the border with Turkey.  The Masis district is considered the area of maximum risk and the height of transmission is in the period between June and October.  If you would like clarification as to the part of the country being discussed, it would be wise to go to the World Health Organisation’s website to observe their map of risk around the world at: http://www.who.int/malaria/travellers/en/.

To protect yourself if you are visiting the aforementioned region in the aforementioned period of time, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of contracting malaria, such as:

·         Ensure you wear long sleeves, long trousers and a hat;

·         Apply insect repellents (speak to a pharmacist about the appropriate one     and how to use it, especially with those under 2 years of age);

·         DO NOT sleep with the window open at night; and

·         Use a mosquito net infused with insect repellent and make certain that it is tucked under the mattress.

Medical Facilities

Finally, although there are numerous medical facilities with qualified doctors available, unfortunately, the medical facilities outside of Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan are generally considered to be poor.  Therefore, outside of this safety zone, treatment is not usually suggested for anything more than trivial or uncomplicated illnesses.  However, if you do find that you require medical services during your visit, then dial 103 and request an ambulance.