Health in Tunisia: vaccines, water, medical care and insurance

No vaccine is required for a trip to Tunisia from Europe. The precautions that matter lie elsewhere: insurance that covers treatment and repatriation, because hospitals ask for a guarantee before treating you; bottled water; keeping away from stray dogs, as rabies is increasing; and the heat, which tops 40 °C in summer inland and in the south.

Before you go: vaccinations

First, be up to date with routine vaccinations, in particular diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough and measles. Other vaccines should be discussed with your doctor or a travel clinic, depending on the trip:

Hepatitis A is also recommended for all travellers, and rabies for long stays or particular exposure. Check vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks before you travel.

What to pack

Medicines

• Keep medicines in their original packaging, with the prescription, which should preferably give the medicines' INN (international non-proprietary name, the name of the active ingredient).
• A medical certificate in English or French is advisable.
• Medicines containing narcotics, such as methadone, and treatments for mental health conditions are subject to special import rules: check with the Tunisian embassy before you leave.
• Bring enough: medicine shortages are increasingly frequent.
• Never buy medicines in the street, because of the risk of counterfeits.

Insurance

An assistance contract or insurance covering medical costs, surgery, hospital stays and repatriation is essential; without it, you may be refused treatment, even in a life-threatening emergency. Your country's embassy never covers these costs.

On the spot: water, food and animals

Water and meals

Never drink tap water: only sealed bottled water or water made safe by filtering or boiling. The same care applies to food: well cooked, fruit peeled or washed in safe water, caution with raw vegetables, shellfish, reheated dishes and cold buffets. Diarrhoea is the most common travellers' illness, and most cases can be avoided this way.

Rabies and stray dogs

Rabies is on the rise: many stray dogs live on the outskirts of large towns and may attack walkers. Infected animals are more numerous in the north of the country, and vaccines and immunoglobulins, the emergency treatment, are hard to find locally. After a bite, a scratch or a lick on broken skin, wash at once with soap and water and see a doctor urgently, even if you are vaccinated.

Mosquitoes and other risks

West Nile fever, spread by mosquitoes, is usually mild but can, rarely, affect the nervous system; there is no vaccine. Leishmaniasis and sandfly fever are also present, but rare. Protection relies on long clothing, repellent and mosquito nets. Snakes and scorpions are also found.

Heat and summer

WMO (World Meteorological Organization) normals for 1991-2020 give average highs in July and August of 34 °C in Tunis and Djerba, 38 °C in Kairouan and 40 °C in Tozeur. Summer temperatures can exceed 40 °C, and the risk of forest fires is then high: follow any bans on entering natural areas. Heatwaves can also lead to temporary power cuts, including in some hotels, affecting air conditioning, mobile networks and sometimes card payments.

Drink regularly, avoid the hottest hours and protect yourself from the sun. In the Saharan south, the pleasant season runs from October to April.

Getting treatment

Standard of care

Medical care is good, at least in Tunis, with many well-equipped private clinics. Outside the capital, expect limitations, especially in public hospitals, which provide only basic care. For a serious illness or injury, it is better to be treated in Europe.

Paying

Treatment is not free for foreign nationals. Doctors, medicines and private clinics must be paid for on the spot, and sometimes before treatment; costs can be high. Hospitals require a financial guarantee, written confirmation of cover or an advance payment, before starting treatment. If you are referred to a medical facility, contact your insurer quickly.

Emergency numbers

• 190: ambulance.
• 197: police.

Cosmetic surgery

Caution is needed with medical tourism: several cases of complications after cosmetic surgery have been reported.

Swimming and activities

Swim in supervised areas, find out about currents and follow the flags where they exist. Always watch children, even when a lifeguard is present. On a quad bike in the desert resorts, always wear a helmet: safety standards vary widely from one operator to another.

The guide Getting around Tunisia covers road risks, including night driving, which is best avoided. The guide Safety in Tunisia gives your country's travel advice, and the Tunisia page presents the destination.