General health advice for travellers to Rwanda:

• Vaccinations: While there is no vaccine requirement to enter Rwanda, travellers should ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, following the advice of their local healthcare provider. A valid tetanus vaccination is highly recommended. Moreover, a small personal first-aid kit is also highly recommended.

• Malaria: Most of Rwanda lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a major problem, but the agent responsible for the disease may be present and preventive measures are recommended.

Travellers should seek professional medical advice on taking anti-malarial medications as a preventive measure, but the most important thing is to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, especially between dawn and dusk.

Travelers are advised to seek immediate medical attention and consult a doctor immediately if they experience symptoms such as high fever, headaches, joint and muscle pain, chills, sweating, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Diagnosis and appropriate antimalarial treatment are available in all health establishments.

• Yellow fever: Though Rwanda is at low risk of yellow fever, a vaccination is only required for travelers from yellow fever endemic countries (see World Health Organization website for additional details). Vaccination must be taken 10 days before traveling to Rwanda. Travelers arriving from yellow fever endemic countries without a yellow fever vaccination certificate will be vaccinated upon entry. No entry is allowed to a traveler from an endemic country who fails to present a yellow fever certificate and does not consent to be vaccinated or quarantined. The cost related to quarantine and/or vaccination upon entry will be covered by the traveler.

• Mpox: Travelers should avoid prolonged skin-to-skin contact with sick people showing Mpox symptoms (skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever). Travelers should wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcoholbased hand sanitizer. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms. Mpox vaccines are available for post-exposure prophylaxis. No preventive Mpox vaccine is required.

• Marburg Virus Disease (MVD): The Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) was officially declared over in Rwanda on 20 December 2024. No new cases were reported for 42 days after the last patient tested negative for the virus twice, as per the WHO protocol for ending such outbreaks.

As a small country, medical help is rarely far away in Rwanda. For basic treatment most towns of any size have pharmacies with a limited range of medicines, while larger towns have hospitals.

In case of medical evacuation, Akagera Aviation operates a helicopter ambulance service within Rwanda in daylight hours, with one military paramedic on call. Please make sure you have adequate medical insurance.

• General health rules: It is advisable

• not to drink tap water. Bottled mineral water can be bought in all towns – make sure the seal is intact.

• not approach stray animals (especially dogs)

• avoid walking barefoot on wet floors

• regular hand washing, before and after meals

• Local Hospitals

• King Faisal Hospital, KG 544 Street 10, Kacyiru, Gasabo, Kigali.

Visit online: https://kfh.rw/

Call toll free from a local line: 3939 or +250 788 123 200

• University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, KN 4 Ave, Kigali

Visit online: https://www.chuk.rw/

Call toll free from a local line: 2023 or +250 788 304 005

• Rwanda Military Hospital, KK 739 Street Kanombe, Kicukiro District, Kigali

Visit online: https://rwandamilitaryhospital.rw/

Call toll free from a local line: 4060 or +250 252 586 420