This continent is made up of many countries, no single advice regime can cover all of them. We are slowly building a list and information about health on each country. Links are at the bottom of the page.

Yellow fever: An official yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on your itinerary, even for South Africa. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers over 1 year of age coming from areas with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Other vaccines you may be offered against cholera, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, rabies, typhoid, 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.

Malaria risk exists throughout the year in many countries. Take evening and nighttime insect precautions in risk areas. The best drug for you depends on your itinerary and on a number of personal factors that should be discussed between you and your health care provider.

Quite a few diseases, including hepatitis A and typhoid fever, are transmitted by unsanitary food handling procedures and contaminated water. Food and beverage precautions are essential in order to reduce chance of illness. Anti-diarrheal drugs may be prescribed by your doctor.

Mosquitoes and ticks transmit a variety of diseases in these countries, including malaria and tick typhus. Personal protective measures are extremely important since insects cannot be avoided.

HIV/AIDS is estimated to be present in a high percentage of the adult population. Be sure you understand risks for HIV transmission.

Tuberculosis is common in all developing countries. Travelers planning to stay more than 1 month should have pre-departure PPD skin test status documented. Travelers should avoid crowded public places and public transportation whenever possible. Domestic help should be screened for TB.

Schistosomiasis is present in freshwater lakes and rivers in the far northeastern and eastern coastal regions of the country, and is transmitted by larvae that penetrate intact skin. Avoid freshwater exposure in these areas, including untreated water around game parks and inland resorts.

Other more contagious and life theatening illnesses may be contracted in many countries. Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is known in central Democratic Republic of Congo. Travelers to these areas should be advised that transmission of Ebola virus is via direct contact with blood or body fluids of acutely ill patients.

Enteric diseases, including amebic and bacillary dysenteries, are extremely common.

We strongly advise visiting the WHO site for more information on specific countries:
http://www.who.int/countries/en/

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Rep
* Chad
* Congo
* Dem. Rep. Congo (Zaire)
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea Bissau
* Guinea
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Reunion
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Principe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa link
* Sudan
* Swaziland
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zanzibar
* Zimbabwe