Sri Lankans travelling to African and South American countries have been advised to get inoculated against yellow fever, a Health Ministry official said.
Dr. K. Ranatunga, head of the Health Ministry’s Ports Assistance Unit, said a valid vaccination card confirming the passenger had been vaccinated is necessary to obtain visas to African, South American countries or countries that are on a World Health Organisation list because of the high prevalence of the disease in those regions.
Countries on the WHO list are: Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Niger, Benin, Cameroons, Chad, Eritrea, Gambia, Senegal, Central African Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Surinam, Peru, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay.
Dr. Ranatunga said those planning to visit Africa or South America should go to the Health Ministry’s Ports Assistance Unit located at the Medical Research Institute in Borella and get themselves vaccinated.
The unit also provides vaccination against meningitis to Sri Lankan pilgrims going on Haj. |
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