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
Iran is a developing nation classified as upper middle income. Located in the Middle East (north of Pakistan and south of Turkmenistan), the climate is classified as dry (arid) to dry (semi arid), with cooler temperatures in some high-altitude areas.
Vaccinations
Yellow Fever
See also: Library article for Yellow Fever
Although yellow fever does not occur in Iran, an official yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on your itinerary.
- Requirement: A certificate proving yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers aged ≥ 9 months coming from countries with risk of YF transmission. This also applies to airport transit stops (no exit through immigration checkpoint) longer than 12 hours in risk countries.
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 chikungunya, cholera, COVID-19, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, mpox, 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
See also: Library article for Malaria
The following is current information as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
WHO—International Travel and Health (current online update, Country List)
(2018) Malaria risk due to P. vivax and very limited risk due to P. falciparum exist from March through November in rural areas of the provinces of Hormozgan and Kerman (tropical part) and the southern part of Sistan and Baluchestan.- Recommended prevention in risk areas: 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: March—November in rural areas of Fars Province, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, and southern, tropical parts of Hormozgan and Kerman Provinces.- Drug resistance3 : Chloroquine.
- Malaria species: P. vivax 93%, P. falciparum 7%.
- 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
See also: Library article for 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.
Other Food-Borne Illnesses
Precautions to prevent brucellosis may be needed.
Insect- and Arthropod-Borne Diseases
Dengue, leishmaniasis, West Nile virus may pose a risk. Personal protective measures are important.
Other Disease and Health Risks
Additional concerns include air pollution, anthrax disease, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, leptospirosis, marine hazards, plague, schistosomiasis, sexually transmitted infections, snakebites.
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 the risk of terrorism, arbitrary detention, and ongoing security concerns, US (DOS), UK (FCO), Canada (GAC), and Australia (DFAT) advise avoiding all travel to this country.
Terrorism Risk
Risk of attack by domestic and transnational terrorist groups exists throughout the country, especially in Tehran and Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Targets may include domestic and international organizations and businesses; public places and events, including those frequented by tourists; and transportation systems.
Risk of kidnapping by terrorist groups exists in areas bordering Pakistan and Iraq, including Khuzestan and Saistan and Baluchestan provinces. Targets may include foreigners (especially Westerners).
Crime
Low risk of violent crime and moderate risk of petty crime exist throughout the country. Theft of valuables by criminals in passing vehicles is common.
Scams involving false identity (such as criminals posing as police officers) have been reported.
Civil Unrest
Protests and demonstrations occur throughout the country and 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
Armed conflict may occur and a military presence may exist in areas bordering Iraq. A dangerous security environment exists and ethnic tensions may be present in areas bordering Afghanistan and Iraq and in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Territorial disputes occur in international waters of the Persian Gulf, including near the islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs.
Transportation Safety
High risk of traffic-related injury or death exists. The road traffic death rate is 12 to 24 per 100,000 population. The rate is less than 10 in most high-income countries.
Structural standards for vehicles may not meet international standards.
Natural Disasters
Sandstorms and dust storms occur.
Extreme heat (which can lead to heat-related illness) occurs from July through August.
Seismic activity frequently occurs.
Consular Information
Selected Embassies or Consulates in Iran
- United States: ir.usembassy.gov
- Canada: Canada does not have an embassy or consulate in Iran.
- United Kingdom: [+98] 21-6405-2000; www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/uk-for-iranians
- Australia: [+98] 21-7206-8666; www.iran.embassy.gov.au
Iran's Embassies or Consulates in Selected Countries
- In the U.S.: www.daftar.org/Eng
- In Canada: 245 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, ON, K2P 2K2
- In the U.K.: uk.mfa.gov.ir/en
- In Australia: australia.mfa.gov.ir/en
Visa/HIV Testing
HIV and hepatitis testing may be required to obtain a tourist, work, or residence visa.