Iraq

Latest update: 30 November 2021 - Authors: Mieke Croughs, Ula Maniewski-Kelner

COVID-19

Travelling to red countries outside the EU or Schengen area is not recommended.

Take a look at the general preventive measures related to COVID-19.

Carefully read the entry conditions and local measures of this country.
Carefully read the information on measures to be taken upon return to Belgium.

Check the current security situation on the federal government website and register your itinerary on Travellers Online.

The information on Wanda is updated daily, but not over the weekend.

This page contains the main health risks for travellers and general recommendations. Travel conditions are different for everyone and each patient's health condition varies. Discuss your trip during a travel consultation with your doctor or in a travel clinic, preferably six to eight weeks before departure.

Important health risks

In the rural areas below 1500 m in the north of Iraq there is a low malaria risk (only P. vivax) during the rainy season between May and November. We recommend the use of mosquito-repellent measures from dusk till morning. In case of fever during or after your journey, get tested for malaria as soon as possible.

Insects can transmit diseases such as leishmaniasis.

Protect yourself against insects.

Ticks can transmit diseases.

Dogs and other mammals can be infected with rabies.

There is a risk of infection with schistosomiasis when swimming or bathing in lakes and rivers.

You may experience altitude sickness in areas above 2500 metres.

Girls who visit their family in this country are sometimes circumcised.

Read these tips before you leave.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travellers.

A single booster of polio vaccination is recommended for all travelers to Asia or Africa aged 16 years or older.

For travellers from certain countries in Asia or Africa where polio occurs, polio vaccination is compulsory.

Yellow fever

Mandatory for some travelers

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Yellow fever does not occur here. Vaccination is not necessary if you are travelling from Belgium.

Vaccination is obligatory from the age of nine months/ one year:

If you are departing from another country where yellow fever can occur.
If you have spent more than twelve hours in transit in an airport in a country where yellow fever occurs.

This vaccination must be administered at least ten days prior to arrival by an official yellow fever vaccination centre and must be registered in an International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis.