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General Map

General map of Suriname

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

Suriname is a developing nation classified as upper middle income. Located in northern South America along the Atlantic Ocean (east of Guyana and west of French Guiana), the climate is humid equatorial (no dry season) in the north and humid equatorial (short dry season) in the south.

Vaccinations

Routine vaccinations are essential due to a persistent global rise of vaccine-preventable diseases (especially markedly high rates of diphtheria, pertussis, and measles). Prior to travel, travelers should be up-to-date with the age-appropriate routine vaccinations recommended by their home country, which may include: COVID-19; H. influenzae type B (Hib); hepatitis A; hepatitis B; herpes zoster; human papillomavirus; influenza; measles, mumps, rubella (a single early dose is recommended for travelers aged 6-11 months); meningococcal; pneumococcal; polio; rotavirus; tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap preferred; consider an early pertussis booster for high-risk travelers); varicella.

Yellow Fever

See also: Library article for Yellow Fever

An official yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on your itinerary. Vaccination is usually recommended if you’ll be traveling in areas where there is risk of yellow fever transmission.

  • Requirement: A certificate proving yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers aged ≥ 1 year 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.
  • 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 chikungunya, dengue, rabies, or typhoid fever.

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)

Country certified malaria-free by WHO in 2025.

Note: the current ITH online update does not reflect this information.

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

Transmission areas

  • No indigenous cases since 2021
  • Previously, primarily in Sipaliwini District, near the border with French Guiana, with limited transmission in Brokopondo, Marowijne, and Para (near the border with French Guiana)

Drug resistance1

  • Previously, chloroquine

Species

  • Previously, P. vivax (primarily)
  • Previously, P. falciparum (rare)

Recommended chemoprophylaxis

  • None (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only)4
    1 Refers to P. falciparum malaria, unless otherwise noted.
    4 Mosquito avoidance includes applying topical mosquito repellant, sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net, and wearing protective clothing (e.g., long pants and socks, long-sleeve shirt). For additional details on insect bite precautions, see Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods chapter.

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

Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis), leishmaniasis, mayaro virus, Zika may pose a risk. Personal protective measures are important.

Other Disease and Health Risks

Additional concerns include helminths, leptospirosis, marine hazards, schistosomiasis, sexually transmitted infections, snakebites, tuberculosis.

Safety and Security

See also: Library article for Safety and Security

Key Safety Risks

  • Road conditions
  • Public transportation
  • Maritime safety
  • Petty crime
  • Scams
  • Cybersecurity

Key Security Threats

  • Cross-border threats in areas bordering Guyana
  • Violent crime
  • Piracy

Emergency Contacts

The police emergency number is 115.