Burkina Faso

General Map

Medical Summary

The health risk information presented here is summarized from Shoreland Travax^®, a decision-support tool used by health care providers to perform a detailed health risk analysis based on specific locations, individual travel styles, and traveler risk behaviors. Travax provides practitioners current, independently researched malaria risk and prevention recommendations in a map-based format that goes beyond the annual WHO and US CDC statements included here. Not included here are current reports from Travax of disease outbreaks or environmental events that may pose elevated risks to travelers’ health and safety. The Providers section of this site offers a directory of health care providers who utilize Shoreland Travax for travel health counseling. Learn more about the detailed reports and maps available from these practitioners (includes links to samples).

General Information

Burkina Faso is a developing nation classified as low income. Located in western Africa (north of Ghana and south of Mali), the climate is classified as dry (semi arid).

Vaccinations

Yellow Fever

Requirement: A certificate proving yellow fever vaccination is required for all travelers aged ≥ 9 months.
Official Status: listed by WHO as a country where YF transmission risk is present.

Other Vaccines

Depending on your itinerary, your personal risk factors, and the length of your visit, your health care provider may offer you vaccination against COVID-19, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, typhoid fever, or a one time polio booster if you haven't previously received one for travel. Routine immunizations, such as those that prevent tetanus/diphtheria or "childhood" diseases, should be reviewed and updated as needed.

Malaria

WHO—International Travel and Health (current online update, Country List)

(2020) Malaria risk due predominantly to P. falciparum exists throughout the year in the entire country.

Recommended prevention: C – Risk of P. falciparum malaria, in combination with reported chloroquine and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine resistance. Mosquito bite prevention plus atovaquone–proguanil or doxycycline or mefloquine chemoprophylaxis (select according to reported side effects and contraindications) ^a
^aAlternatively, for travel to rural areas with low risk of malaria infection, mosquito bite prevention can be combined with stand–by emergency treatment (SBET).

WHO Country List footnote: When available, the date of the most recent update or confirmation is indicated in parentheses in the country list. If no date is indicated, the most recent update or confirmation was provided before 2013.

CDC—Health Information for International Travel (current online edition)

Areas with malaria: All.

Drug resistance³ : Chloroquine.
Malaria species: P. falciparum >80%, P. ovale 5%–10%, P. vivax rare.
Recommended chemoprophylaxis: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or tafenoquine.⁴
³ Refers to P. falciparum malaria unless otherwise noted.
⁴ Primaquine and tafenoquine can cause hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD deficiency. Patients must be screened for G6PD deficiency before starting primaquine or tafenoquine. See Tafenoquine Approved for Malaria Prophylaxis and Treatment for more information.

Other Concerns

Travelers' Diarrhea

High risk exists throughout the country, including in deluxe accommodations. Community sanitation and food safety measures are generally inadequate. Some itineraries (e.g., remote destinations, austere accommodations) and activities (e.g., ecotourism, eating street or local-market food) further increase risk.

Travelers should observe food and beverage precautions, which reduce the likelihood of illness.

Travelers should carry loperamide for self-treatment of diarrhea and, if risk is moderate to high, an antibiotic to add if diarrhea is severe. Consult a knowledgeable health care provider regarding which antibiotic is appropriate for you and most effective for your destination.

Insect- and Arthropod-Borne Diseases

African trypanosomiasis, chikungunya, dengue, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis, Zika may pose a risk. Personal protective measures are important.

Other Disease and Health Risks

Additional concerns include anthrax disease, helminths, hepatitis C, leptospirosis, melioidosis, schistosomiasis, sexually transmitted infections, snakebites, tuberculosis.

Consular Advice

The material below includes information from the US Department of State (DOS), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCO), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), as well as from additional open-source material. Standard safety precautions that apply to all international travel can be found in the Library article Safety and Security.

Consular Travel Advice

Due to terrorism, violent crime, and other ongoing security concerns, US (DOS), UK (FCO), Canada (GAC), and Australia (DFAT) advise avoiding all travel to this country.

A state of emergency, suspending many individual liberties, is in place in Centre-Est, Est, Centre-Nord, Nord, Boucle du Mouhoun, Sahel, Hauts-Bassins, and Cascades regions. Military zones are in place in Soum Province (in the north) and on the southeast border with Benin. Travelers in these zones risk being mistaken for terrorists or becoming caught up in military operations. Travelers should maintain a high level of security awareness, carry a fully charged communication device, follow the advice of local authorities, and monitor the situation through local media and embassy communications.

Terrorism Risk

High risk of attack by domestic and/or transnational terrorist groups exists throughout the country, especially in Ouagadougou. Targets may include domestic and international organizations and businesses; public places and events, including those frequented by tourists; and transportation systems.

Since 2016, attacks have targeted areas frequented by tourists in Ouagadougou, including hotels and restaurants.

High risk of kidnapping by terrorist groups exists throughout the country, especially in northern and southwestern areas and in areas bordering Niger and Benin. Targets may include foreigners (especially Westerners), journalists, nongovernmental organization workers, missionaries, and aid workers.

Crime

Moderate risk of violent crime (armed robbery and carjacking) exists throughout the country, mainly in remote and border areas, in Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, and on major roads.

High risk of petty crime exists in cities, especially in Ouagadougou (particularly around the Christmas holidays and during festivals) and in areas surrounding the UN traffic circle and Central Market.

Theft of valuables from unattended accommodations is common.

Scams involving gems and precious metals have been reported.

Civil Unrest

Protests and demonstrations occur throughout the country and are generally peaceful but have the potential to turn violent without warning. Bystanders are at risk of harm from violence or from the response by authorities. Disruption to transportation, free movement, or the ability to carry out daily activities may occur.

Unsafe Areas

A dangerous security environment may exist in areas bordering Mali, Niger, Benin, and Togo.

Transportation Safety

Significant risk of traffic-related injury or death exists. The road traffic death rate is more than 24 per 100,000 population, the highest risk category. Carefully assess the safety of transportation options before any road travel.

Structural standards for vehicles may not meet international standards.

Natural Disasters

The rainy season is from June through October. Floods, mudslides, and landslides may occur.

Sandstorms and dust storms occur from February through June.

Consular Information

Selected Embassies or Consulates in Burkina Faso

United States: [+226] 25-49-53-00; bf.usembassy.gov
Canada: [+226] 25-49-08-00; www.burkinafaso.gc.ca
United Kingdom: U.K. does not have an embassy or consulate in Burkina Faso.
Australia: Australia does not have an embassy or consulate in Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso's Embassies or Consulates in Selected Countries

In the U.S.: www.burkina-usa.org
In Canada: ambabf-ca.org/home-en
In the U.K.: Burkina Faso does not have an embassy or consulate in the U.K.
In Australia: Burkina Faso does not have an embassy or consulate in Australia.

Visa/HIV Testing

HIV testing is not required to obtain a tourist, work, or residence visa.

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