Cape Verde Health Care and Vaccinations

Health Care

Health insurance, including emergency repatriation cover, is advised, although in-patient treatment is free in general wards on presentation of a passport. Treatment is private and expensive on the smaller islands.

Food and Drink

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. All drinking water should be bottled, boiled or carbonated. Water used for brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized and filtered. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid all dairy products and food from street vendors. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other Risks

Hepatitis E is highly endemic in sub-saharan Africa, but has very low occurrence in Cape Verde; precautions are still advisable. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic in the region. Vaccination against tuberculosis is sometimes advised. Giardia occurs.

As of 2019, travellers are advised to practice special precaution for Zika Virus, which is a concern in central and west Africa. Pregnant travelers or travelers planning for pregnancy in the future are advised to postpone travel. All travelers should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.