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The health risk information presented here is summarized from Shoreland Travax®, a decision-support tool used by health care providers to perform a detailed health risk analysis based on specific locations, individual travel styles, and traveler risk behaviors. Travax provides practitioners current, independently researched malaria risk and prevention recommendations in a map-based format that goes beyond the annual WHO and US CDC statements included here. Not included here are current reports from Travax of disease outbreaks or environmental events that may pose elevated risks to travelers’ health and safety. The Providers section of this site offers a directory of health care providers who utilize Shoreland Travax for travel health counseling. Learn more about the detailed reports and maps available from these practitioners (includes links to samples).
See also: COVID-19 Traveler Summary
Fully vaccinated: 63.2%
Boosted or Additional Dose: 4.0%
Daily new cases: 0 (7-day rolling average)
Daily new deaths: 0 (7-day rolling average)
Mozambique is a developing nation classified as low income. Located in southeastern Africa along the Indian Ocean (north of South Africa and south of Malawi), the climate classifications range from tropical dry winter to humid equatorial (long dry season).
See also: Library article for Yellow Fever
Although yellow fever does not occur in Mozambique, an official yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on your itinerary.
- Requirement: A certificate proving yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers aged ≥ 1 year coming from countries with risk of YF transmission. This also applies to airport transit stops (no exit through immigration checkpoint) longer than 12 hours in risk countries. Note: Proof of YF vaccination is often required for travelers coming from nonrisk countries, despite Mozambique's published declaration to the contrary under the International Health Regulations.
Depending on your itinerary, your personal risk factors, and the length of your visit, your health care provider may offer you vaccination against cholera, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, rabies, typhoid fever, or a one time polio booster if you haven't previously received one for travel. Routine immunizations, such as those that prevent tetanus/diphtheria or "childhood" diseases, should be reviewed and updated as needed.
See also: Library article for Malaria
The following is current information as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
WHO—International Travel and Health (current online update, Country List)(2020) Malaria risk due predominantly to P. falciparum exists throughout the year in the entire country.
- Recommended prevention: C – Risk of P. falciparum malaria, in combination with reported chloroquine and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine resistance. Mosquito bite prevention plus atovaquone–proguanil or doxycycline or mefloquine chemoprophylaxis (select according to reported side effects and contraindications) a
aAlternatively, for travel to rural areas with low risk of malaria infection, mosquito bite prevention can be combined with stand–by emergency treatment (SBET).
WHO Country List footnote: When available, the date of the most recent update or confirmation is indicated in parentheses in the country list. If no date is indicated, the most recent update or confirmation was provided before 2013.
CDC—Health Information for International Travel (current online edition)Areas with malaria: All.
- Drug resistance3 : Chloroquine.
- Malaria species: P. falciparum >90%, P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. vivax rare.
- Recommended chemoprophylaxis: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or tafenoquine.4
3 Refers to P. falciparum malaria unless otherwise noted.
4 Primaquine and tafenoquine can cause hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD deficiency. Patients must be screened for G6PD deficiency before starting primaquine or tafenoquine. See Tafenoquine Approved for Malaria Prophylaxis and Treatment for more information.
See also: Library article for Travelers' Diarrhea
High risk exists throughout the country, including in deluxe accommodations. Food and beverage precautions may reduce the likelihood of illness.
Travelers should carry loperamide for self-treatment of diarrhea and, if risk is moderate to high, an antibiotic to add if diarrhea is severe. Consult a knowledgeable health care provider regarding which antibiotic is appropriate for you and most effective for your destination.
Insect- and Arthropod-Borne Diseases
African trypanosomiasis, chikungunya, dengue, onchocerciasis, tick-bite fever may pose a risk. Personal protective measures are important.
Other Disease and Health Risks
Additional concerns include anthrax disease, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, helminths, marine hazards, plague, schistosomiasis, sexually transmitted infections, snakebites, tuberculosis.
The material below includes information from the US Department of State (DOS), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCO), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), as well as from additional open-source material. Standard safety precautions that apply to all international travel can be found in the Library article Safety and Security.
Consular Travel Advice
Due to the threat of terrorism and ongoing security concerns, Canada (GAC) advises avoiding travel to the following districts in Cabo Delgado Province: Palma, Mocimboa da Praia, Muidumbe, Macomia, and Quissanga; advises reconsidering travel (or avoiding nonessential travel) to the rest of Cabo Delgado Province; and advises reconsidering travel (or avoiding nonessential travel) to Cuamba and Madimba districts (Niassa Province) and Sofala and Zambezia provinces. US (DOS), UK (FCO), and Australia (DFAT) have more limited warnings.
Risk of attack by domestic and transnational terrorist groups exists throughout the country, especially in Cabo Delgado Province. Targets may include domestic and international organizations and businesses; public places and events, including those frequented by tourists; and transportation systems.
High risk of violent crime (armed robbery, home robbery, sexual assault, and carjacking) and high risk of petty crime exist throughout the country, especially in Maputo and other cities.
Theft of valuables from unattended vehicles is common.
Kidnappings by criminal groups occur throughout the country, especially in Maputo (including Matola), Beira, and other cities. Targets may include foreigners (especially Westerners).
Scams involving the use of distraction techniques to commit robbery (including ploys to detain drivers) and corrupt officials have been reported.
Protests and demonstrations may infrequently occur and have the potential to turn violent without warning. Bystanders are at risk of harm from violence or from the response by authorities. Disruption to transportation, free movement, or the ability to carry out daily activities may occur.
Armed conflict may occur in Palma, Mocimboa da Praia, Muidumbe, Macomia, and Quissanga districts in Cabo Delgado Province.
Rent water sports equipment from reputable operators. Scuba dive only with personnel certified by PADI or NAUI and use equipment only from PADI- or NAUI-certified dive operators.
Significant risk of traffic-related injury or death exists. The road traffic death rate is more than 24 per 100,000 population, the highest risk category. Carefully assess the safety of transportation options before any road travel.
Structural standards for vehicles may not meet international standards.
The rainy season is from November through April, coinciding with the cyclone season. Floods, mudslides, and landslides may occur, especially in coastal areas, around river basins (particularly the Zambezi River), and in central and southern provinces.
Selected Embassies or Consulates in Mozambique
- United States: [+258] 21-49-27-97; mz.usembassy.gov
- Canada: [+258] 21-244-200; www.canadainternational.gc.ca/mozambique
- United Kingdom: [+258] 21-35-60-00; www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-maputo
- Australia: [+258] 21-498-778
Mozambique's Embassies or Consulates in Selected Countries
- In the U.S.: usa.embamoc.gov.mz
- In Canada: Mozambique does not have an embassy or consulate in Canada.
- In the U.K.: www.mozambiquehighcommission.org.uk
- In Australia: [+61] 03-9652-9000
HIV testing is not required to obtain a tourist, work, or residence visa.