Burkina Faso
Travel Destination – Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African nation known for its rich cultural traditions, vibrant arts scene, and diverse landscapes. The capital, Ouagadougou, is home to major cultural events including the Panafrican Film and Television Festival, while Bobo-Dioulasso is renowned for its historic Sudano-Sahelian mosque, lively music culture, and artisan heritage. Across the country, visitors can discover the intricately painted Kassena houses of Tiébélé, the dramatic rock formations of the Sindou Peaks, the waterfalls and lakes of the Banfora region, and the UNESCO-listed ruins of Loropéni, which reflect the area's long pre-colonial history.
Burkina Faso also supports important wildlife areas, including the Nazinga Game Ranch, known for its elephant population and diverse birdlife. Travellers should note that the country currently faces significant security challenges, so careful planning and consideration of both health and safety risks are essential before travel.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
A travel medicine consultation at least six to eight weeks before departure is strongly recommended for any traveller considering Burkina Faso. The range and severity of infectious disease risks in this destination requires early and thorough planning, as several key vaccines are administered in stages and antimalarial medication may need to be commenced prior to arrival. A travel doctor will assess the specific itinerary, as health risks differ considerably between urban Ouagadougou and rural or southern regions.
Travellers should be aware that healthcare infrastructure outside the capital is severely limited. Access to reliable medical facilities, pharmaceutical supplies, and emergency care cannot be guaranteed beyond major centres, and medical evacuation is likely to be required for any serious illness or injury. Comprehensive travel insurance that explicitly covers emergency medical evacuation is therefore essential and should be confirmed before departure.
Insect avoidance
Malaria risk due predominantly to Plasmodium falciparum exists throughout the year across the entire country of Burkina Faso, and both mosquito bite prevention and chemoprophylaxis are recommended for all travellers. Yellow fever risk is also present nationwide. Additionally, dengue and Zika virus can occur anywhere in the country, and protection against mosquito bites during daylight hours is recommended. Chikungunya has also been reported.
Given that Malaria-transmitting mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn while dengue, Zika, and chikungunya vectors bite primarily during the day, insect protection is necessary throughout the full 24-hour period rather than during any single portion of the day. Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin should be applied to all exposed skin and reapplied at regular intervals, particularly after perspiring or washing. Long sleeved shirts, long trousers, and closed footwear should be worn whenever outdoors, and accommodation with fly screens or air conditioning is strongly preferred. A permethrin-treated mosquito net should be used wherever screened sleeping environments are unavailable, and treating outer clothing and gear with permethrin provides further protection for those spending extended periods in rural areas.
Food and water hygiene
Burkinabé cuisine is rooted in the agricultural staples of the Sahel, with tô, a firm porridge prepared from millet or sorghum, forming the basis of daily meals alongside leafy sauces and grilled meats. Riz gras, a rice dish cooked with meat and vegetables, is widely served across the country. Enjoying local food requires consistent attention to hygiene throughout the trip to prevent gastroenteritis.
Tap water should not be consumed unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically treated. Drinks with ice from unverified sources should also be avoided. Fruit and vegetables should only be consumed if they have been peeled or thoroughly cooked, and cooked foods that are no longer hot or that have been left at room temperature should be avoided. Hand hygiene is essential, requiring thorough handwashing with soap and water before eating and after using the toilet, or with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser where handwashing facilities are unavailable.
Rabies prevention
The rabies virus is present throughout Burkina Faso and poses a risk to travellers, particularly those venturing into rural areas or spending extended time in the country. The virus is carried by dogs and a range of wildlife including bats. Dog bites represent the most common route of human exposure across the region. Access to post-exposure treatment within Burkina Faso cannot be reliably guaranteed.
Travellers should not touch or feed any animals they do not know, should not allow animals to lick open wounds, and should not get animal saliva in their eyes or mouth.
It is advisable to consult a travel doctor prior to departure to discuss whether a pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended, particularly for travellers visiting rural areas, undertaking outdoor activities, planning prolonged stays, or travelling away from reliable medical facilities. Any bite, scratch, or contact of broken skin with animal saliva should be treated as significant regardless of prior vaccination history, requiring thorough wound washing and prompt medical assessment.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Burkina Faso?
Yellow Fever
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Burkina Faso requires all travellers arriving in the country to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination. Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease capable of causing fever, jaundice, and in severe cases, significant bleeding and organ failure.
The vaccine is administered as a single dose at a registered yellow fever vaccination centre and confers lifelong immunity in the great majority of recipients. Certification must be presented on arrival, and travellers who are unable to produce valid documentation may be refused entry or vaccinated on the spot under controlled conditions. A travel doctor can advise on any contraindications to vaccination, which apply to certain groups including infants under nine months and individuals with specific immune conditions.
Meningococcal disease
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Burkina Faso occupies a central position within Africa's meningitis belt, the band of sub-Saharan nations stretching from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, where meningococcal disease occurs at significantly elevated rates relative to the rest of the world. Burkina Faso has historically been described as the "buckle" of the meningitis belt, with higher rates of meningococcal disease than many of its neighbours.
Vaccination is recommended for all travellers older than two months who visit countries within the meningitis belt during the meningitis season, which runs from December to June. Vaccination involves a quadrivalent MenACWY vaccine before travel.
Transmission risk during this period is increased by dusty harmattan winds, cold nights, and upper respiratory infections, all of which facilitate spread of the disease. Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can be fatal if left untreated. A travel doctor can confirm the appropriate vaccine schedule based on vaccination history and planned travel timing.
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection transmitted through food and water contaminated with the virus, producing illness ranging from mild nausea and fatigue to prolonged jaundice and significant liver inflammation. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to Burkina Faso, given the variable food and water safety standards throughout the country. The vaccine provides long-lasting protection after a two-dose course and is well-tolerated in most individuals. A travel medicine consultation is the appropriate setting to confirm whether vaccination is current.
Typhoid
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Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi, a bacterium acquired through ingestion of contaminated food or water, and produces sustained high fever, headache, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort that can progress to serious complications without treatment. Vaccination is recommended for most travellers to Burkina Faso, particularly those consuming food outside of controlled hotel environments, spending time in rural areas, or undertaking extended stays in the country.
Vaccination provides meaningful protection, but careful food and water hygiene practices remain essential throughout the trip.
Rabies
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The rabies virus is present throughout Burkina Faso and poses a risk to travellers, particularly those venturing into rural areas or spending extended time in the country. The virus is carried by dogs and a range of wildlife including bats. Dog bites represent the most common route of human exposure across the region. Access to post-exposure treatment within Burkina Faso cannot be reliably guaranteed.
Travellers should not touch or feed any animals they do not know, should not allow animals to lick open wounds, and should not get animal saliva in their eyes or mouth.
It is advisable to consult a travel doctor prior to departure to discuss whether a pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended, particularly for travellers visiting rural areas, undertaking outdoor activities, planning prolonged stays, or travelling away from reliable medical facilities. Any bite, scratch, or contact of broken skin with animal saliva should be treated as a medical emergency regardless of prior vaccination history, requiring thorough wound washing and urgent medical assessment.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver transmitted through blood and bodily fluids, including via unprotected sexual contact, unsterile medical or dental procedures, and tattooing or piercing with non-sterile equipment.
Vaccination is recommended for some travellers to Burkina Faso, where the disease circulates at higher rates than in Australia. Given the limited availability of screened blood products and reliably sterile medical equipment outside major centres, the risk associated with requiring any form of medical care in a rural setting adds further weight to this recommendation. Many Australians received hepatitis B vaccine through childhood immunisation programs, but some adults remain unvaccinated, and vaccination status should be confirmed with a travel doctor.
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious airborne viral illness producing fever, cough, and a characteristic blotchy rash that spreads from the face downward. Measles outbreaks continue to occur in many countries around the world.
Australian travellers born during or since 1966 require two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine. Vaccination history should be reviewed and confirmed with a travel doctor prior to departure.
Polio
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Burkina Faso is among the international destinations with circulating poliovirus, and up to date polio vaccination is advised before any international travel. Polio is a highly contagious viral infection transmitted through contaminated food and water that can, in a proportion of cases, lead to paralysis or permanent disability. Adults who completed a childhood vaccination course may be eligible for a booster dose. A travel doctor can review vaccination records and advise on whether this is required based on vaccination history and the nature of the itinerary.
Routine vaccinations
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Travelling to Burkina Faso provides an important opportunity to confirm that all routine immunisations are current, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and hepatitis B. International travel results in increased exposure to conditions that are less common in Australia due to local widespread immunisation programs. A tetanus booster is particularly relevant given the risk of cuts and wounds in a remote environment where appropriate medical management may not be readily accessible.
Annual influenza vaccination is advisable, as influenza circulates year-round in tropical climates without the seasonal pattern observed in Australia. COVID-19 vaccination should be current in accordance with Australian public health guidance, including booster doses for those aged 65 and over or with relevant underlying health conditions.
A travel doctor can identify any outstanding gaps and provide tailored advice based on age, medical history, and the specific itinerary.
Burkina Faso
Other health risks in Burkina Faso
Malaria
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Malaria risk due predominantly to Plasmodium falciparum exists throughout the year in the entire country of Burkina Faso. Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous malaria parasite and is responsible for the great majority of severe and fatal malaria cases globally. The parasite is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes active from dusk to dawn, infecting the red blood cells and liver. Symptoms of malaria include a high fever, chills, headache, nausea, and muscle aches. Without timely treatment, severe malaria can progress rapidly to life-threatening complications including malaria in the brain and severe anaemia.
Antimalarial medication is recommended before travel to Burkina Faso. A travel doctor should be consulted to prescribe the most suitable antimalarial for the individual traveller's itinerary, health history, and planned length of stay. Chloroquine-resistant malaria is established in Burkina Faso, making selection of the appropriate antimalarial medication critical. Antimalarial medication should be obtained and filled before departure, and an adequate supply carried for the entire duration of the trip.
Any fever occurring during travel or up to four weeks after returning from a malaria-risk area should prompt immediate medical assessment, with travel history disclosed to the treating doctor.
African Trypanosomiasis
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African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is a rare parasitic disease transmitted through the bite of an infected tsetse fly. Burkina Faso has reported sporadic cases in recent years, primarily in rural areas, while the risk to travellers visiting urban centres is very low.
Early symptoms include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and itching. If untreated, the infection can spread to the central nervous system, causing confusion, difficulty walking, sleep disturbances, and eventually death.
There is no vaccine or preventive medication. Protection relies on avoiding tsetse fly bites by wearing long sleeves and trousers in neutral colours and taking care in rural endemic areas. Travellers who develop fever or unexplained neurological symptoms after travel should seek medical attention and mention their travel history.
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis is among the most common health problems affecting travellers in Burkina Faso and is typically caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites present in contaminated food or water. Symptoms including diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping generally develop within one to three days of exposure.
Maintaining adequate hydration, ideally with oral rehydration solutions, is the primary treatment for uncomplicated cases, and most episodes resolve within a few days. Medical attention should be sought if symptoms are severe, persistent, or accompanied by blood or high fever. Given the limited availability of healthcare outside Ouagadougou, access to medical care may be significantly delayed in some regions, reinforcing the importance of preventive food and water hygiene throughout the entire trip.
Dengue and Chikungunya
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Dengue is a viral infection transmitted in Burkina Faso by Aedes mosquitoes that are active primarily during daylight hours. It produces sudden onset fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and intense muscle and joint aching, and in a proportion of cases can progress to serious illness.
Chikungunya is also present in Burkina Faso, and is caused by the same species of daytime-biting mosquito and presents similarly to dengue, with joint pain that can persist for weeks to months after the acute illness resolves.
There is no specific treatment for either infection. While vaccines have been developed, these are difficult to access in Australia and only required in a limited range of circumstances. These can be discussed with your travel doctor. Consistent mosquito bite prevention throughout all hours of the day is the mainstay of protection for most travellers.
Zika virus
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Zika virus can occur anywhere in Burkina Faso, and protection against mosquito bites during the day is recommended. Zika is a viral infection transmitted by similar daytime-biting mosquitoes responsible for dengue and chikungunya.
Most infections cause mild or no symptoms, which may include low-grade fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. The primary clinical concern relates to pregnancy, as Zika infection is associated with microcephaly and other significant congenital abnormalities in the developing fetus. Zika can also be transmitted sexually, including from an asymptomatic returning traveller to a partner. Pregnant travellers, or those planning to conceive, should seek specialist advice before travel to Burkina Faso. Returning travellers should follow current Australian health guidance regarding prevention of sexual transmission after travel to a Zika-affected region.
Schistosomiasis
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Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that can be spread through freshwater, is found in Burkina Faso. The parasite is released from infected freshwater snails and penetrates intact skin following contact with contaminated water. Exposure occurs during swimming, wading, bathing, or washing in lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams. Early symptoms may include a skin rash, fever, chills, or muscle aches, but many infections produce no immediate symptoms.
Without treatment, schistosomiasis can lead to serious long-term complications affecting the intestines or bladder. There is no vaccine or tablet available to prevent schistosomiasis, and all travellers should avoid contact with freshwater bodies. Swimming in adequately chlorinated water or seawater does not carry risk of infection. Travellers who may have been exposed to freshwater in Burkina Faso should undergo testing after returning to Australia, as effective treatment is available.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Anyone considering travel to Burkina Faso should carefully review the latest Australian Government advice at Smartraveller before departure, as the security situation can be volatile.
Terrorist attacks occur regularly and can target civilians, security forces, government facilities, and public places frequented by foreigners, including hotels, restaurants, markets, and tourist sites. Kidnapping of foreign nationals remains a significant risk. Violent crime and opportunistic theft are also concerns, particularly in urban areas and after dark. Demonstrations can occur with little warning and may escalate quickly.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Road traffic crashes are a significant cause of injury among international travellers. In Burkina Faso, road conditions can be poor, particularly in rural areas and during the rainy season. Public transport is often unreliable, and road travel outside major cities carries additional security risks. Travellers should use reputable transport providers, wear seatbelts whenever available, and avoid driving at night.
Burkina Faso's climate is extremely hot, particularly between March and May. Heat exhaustion and dehydration can occur quickly, especially during outdoor activities. Travellers should drink water regularly, wear lightweight and breathable clothing, limit strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day, and use sunscreen when outdoors.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Travel from Australia to Burkina Faso involves multiple long-haul flight segments and a total journey time typically exceeding twenty hours. Extended periods of immobility on aircraft and during subsequent ground travel increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which reduced blood flow allows clots to form in the deep veins of the legs.
Travellers are advised to move about the cabin at regular intervals, perform simple seated exercises such as ankle rotations and calf contractions, and maintain adequate fluid intake throughout the journey. Alcohol and caffeine contribute to dehydration and should be consumed in moderation during travel.
Travellers with additional risk factors including a prior history of blood clots, recent surgery, pregnancy, use of hormonal contraception, or significant overweight should seek specific advice from a travel doctor before departure, as below-knee compression stockings may be appropriate for a journey of this duration and complexity.