Hepatitis B
Spreads Through infected blood, contaminated needles and sexual intercourse.
Symptoms and effects Jaundice and liver problems (occasionally failure).
Prevention Travellers should make this a routine vaccination, although Morocco gives hepatitis
B vaccination as part of routine childhood vaccination. It is given singly, or at the same time as
hepatitis A.
HIV
Morocco has a growing HIV infection rate of 0.11%, primarily found in cities such as Agadir and
Marrakesh, and rising above 5% in some areas.
Spreads Through infected blood and blood products; sexual intercourse with an infected
partner; ‘blood to blood’ contacts, such as through contaminated instruments during medical,
dental, acupuncture and other body-piercing procedures, or sharing used intravenous needles.
Leishmaniasis
Spreads Through the bite of an infected sandfly or dog. It may be found in rural areas in the
Atlas Mountains, where sandflies are more prevalent between June and October.
Symptoms and effects Slowly growing skin lump or sores. It may develop into a serious, life-
threatening fever, usually accompanied by anaemia and weight loss.
Prevention and treatment Avoid sandfly bites. There is no vaccine, but treatment with an
antimonial drug such as Glucantime or Pentostam is straightforward, usually involving an
injection.
Rabies
Spreads Through bites or licks on broken skin from an infected animal. Rabies is endemic to
Morocco.
Symptoms and effects Initial symptoms are pain or tingling at the site of the bite with fever,
loss of appetite and headache. If untreated, both ‘furious’ and less-common ‘dumb’ rabies are
fatal.
Prevention and treatment People travelling to remote areas, where a reliable source of post-
bite vaccine is not available within 24 hours, should be vaccinated. Any bite, scratch or lick from
a warm-blooded, furry animal should immediately be thoroughly cleaned. If you have not been
vaccinated and you get bitten, you will need a course of injections starting as soon as possible
after the injury. Vaccination does not provide immunity, it merely buys you more time to seek
medical help.
Tuberculosis
Spreads Through close respiratory contact and, occasionally, infected milk or milk products.
Symptoms and effects Can be asymptomatic, although symptoms can include a cough,
weight loss or fever months or even years after exposure. An X-ray is the best way to confirm
if you have tuberculosis.
Prevention BCG vaccine is recommended for those mixing closely with the local population,
whether visiting family, planning a long stay, or working as a teacher or health-care worker. As
it’s a live vaccine it should not be given to pregnant women or immuno-compromised individuals.