Kenya Global Health Insurance / Travel Advice

• There are confirmed human cases of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus in Kenya. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. You should monitor media reports for any developments and advice. Screening is being conducted at all ports of entry into Kenya. Health Officials are contacting arriving crews to ask if they have any passengers displaying symptoms, if they do, these passengers will be contacted, isolated and checked, including being asked for a sample to test.

• There are cases of AIDS/HIV in Kenya. A study carried out by the Kenyan government, suggests 6.7% of people in Kenya have the disease. There are more than 1.2 million people living with the HIV/AIDS in Kenya (over 190,000 deaths per year).

• Kenya ranks 13th on the list of 22 high-burden tuberculosis (TB) countries in the world and has the fifth highest tuberculosis burden country in Africa.

• Several vaccinations are highly recommended for travelers journeying to the country, they include: Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, and Diphtheria. It is also recommended that you are up to date with your polio and tetanus vaccinations.

• There's a high risk of catching malaria everywhere you travel in Kenya. The highlands used to be a low-risk area, but even there you have to be careful and take precautions. Kenya is home to the chloroquine-resistant strain of malaria as well as several others. Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country.

• There have been many cases of Cholera. A total of 2,528 cholera cases have been reported with 65 deaths in 20 districts from 1 January to 15 May 2009. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Food prepared by unlicensed vendors should be avoided at all times. If you suffer from Diarrhea during a visit to Kenya you should seek immediate medical attention.

• There is a outbreak of the Rift Valley Fever virus in Kenya. In the Garissa district alone there were over 27,500 infections of the RVF, making this the largest record outbreak in East Africa.

• According to the report, only one in twenty households had a flush toilet inside their dwelling. one in eight, respondents claimed no access to any kind of sanitation. Only one in twenty respondents had access to water via a tap in their dwelling with nine per cent of respondents having a tap in their yard. A third of the respondents were getting their water from a river or dam.

• There is a high threat from terrorism in Kenya, and attacks could be indiscriminate. In 1998 there was an attack on the US Embassy in Nairobi that left 243 people dead and over 1000 injured. There have been attacks on hotels and cafes which resulted in significant loss of life. There was an unsuccessful attempt to bring down a civilian airliner in Mombasa in November 2002.

• In July 2009, three aid workers were kidnapped from the Kenyan border town of Mandera and taken into Somalia. In November 2008 armed groups based in Somalia crossed into Kenya near the town of El Wak and kidnapped two Western nuns. It is not known why the aid workers or the nuns were targeted. Any travel to remote areas or border regions could put you at risk of being the target of attacks or kidnappings. We advise against all but essential travel to within 30 kilometers of the border with Somalia. There have been recent attacks by Somali militia into Kenya and the recent kidnapping of three aid workers in July and of two Western nuns in November 2008.

• We advise against all but essential travel to low income areas of Nairobi, including all townships or slum areas, which experience high crime levels.

• Muggings and armed attacks by gangs can occur at any time, particularly in Nairobi and Mombasa. Avoid walking around after dark as attacks can occur anywhere, but especially in isolated areas such as empty beaches.

• Do not accept food or drink from strangers as it may be drugged.

• Beware of thieves posing as police officers; always ask to see identification.

• Do not carry valuables or wear jewelry in public places. Do not carry credit cards or cash cards unless you must: people have been forced by thieves to withdraw cash.

• There have been incidents of car-jacking and armed robbery involving foreign nationals in and around Nairobi. You should remain vigilant at all times, particularly at night and on the roads that link Nairobi city centre to residential areas. You should avoid stopping at the side of the road and should drive defensively, with vehicle doors locked and windows closed at all times.

• We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before traveling.

Kenya Global Health Insurance

While traveling overseas it is important that you know where to go for quality medical treatment and also to know that the treatment will be covered . Whether you are an expat working or a tourist on vacation in Kenya, global health insurance policies provide some of the most extensive coverage available anywhere in the world. We at Globalsurance can offer you a variety global health insurance plans that have been tailored to you and your family. For more information, please contact our dedicated advisors today.