Suriname

Medical Summary

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 rise of vaccine-preventable diseases (especially markedly high rates of diphtheria, pertussis, and measles) globally. 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; 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, 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)

(2021) Malaria risk due to P. falciparum (40%), P. vivax (58%), and mixed infections (2%) continues to decrease in recent years. Suriname is in the process of malaria elimination. Malaria occurs throughout the year in the interior of the country beyond the coastal savannah area, with highest risk mainly along the eastern border and in gold‐mining areas. Paramaribo city and the other seven coastal districts have been free from malaria transmission since 1968. P. falciparum resistant to mefloquine has been reported. Some decline in quinine sensitivity has also been reported.

• 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
  a}Alternatively, 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: Present in the municipality of Tapanahony in Sipaliwini Province. Rare cases in Brokopondo Province, Marowijne Province, and Boven Saramacca municipality in Sipaliwini Province. No malaria in Paramaribo.

• Drug resistance³ : Chloroquine.
• Malaria species: P. falciparum 70%, P. vivax 15%–20%.
• Recommended chemoprophylaxis: Tapanahony municipality in Sipaliwini Province: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or tafenoquine.⁴ Other Areas with malaria: None (practice mosquito avoidance).
  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

Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis), dengue, 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 Phone Number

The police emergency number is 115.