What Vaccinations Does Burundi Require for Americans in 2026?

Quick answer: Burundi requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers from all countries, including the United States. Carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly called the yellow card. CDC recommends that travellers to Burundi be fully vaccinated against measles, keep routine vaccines current, consider hepatitis A vaccination when unvaccinated, and take prescription medicine to prevent malaria.

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling. This article is informational, not legal or medical advice. Vaccination, medication and entry rules can change, and a clinician must assess your personal health, itinerary and medicines.

These rules apply to American citizens travelling from the United States to Burundi, whether the trip is for a safari, business or tourism. Before booking, travellers can also compare Burundi safari packages and Rusizi–Kibira itineraries while checking the health requirements for every country on the route.

Yellow fever certificate rules for Burundi

Burundi requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers arriving from all countries. That means a U.S. passport holder travelling directly from the United States should plan to carry an ICVP, even if the traveller has not recently visited another yellow-fever-risk country.

The Burundi Embassy in Washington lists a copy of a yellow fever vaccine certificate among its visa-service requirements. Carry the original ICVP with your passport and keep a secure copy separately; the embassy's document requirement is a reason to prepare both your visa file and arrival documents carefully.

CDC states that a completed ICVP is valid for the life of the person vaccinated under the International Health Regulations. A routine booster is therefore not generally required merely to keep the certificate valid, although a healthcare professional may recommend additional vaccination in particular circumstances.

What about airport transit?

Your full itinerary matters. CDC advises travellers to assess transfers through airports where they might pass immigration, leave the airport transit area, stay overnight or face a long layover, because a transit country can impose its own yellow fever documentation rules. Confirm the requirements of every transit country and ask the airline whether your connection requires immigration clearance.

Do not rely on a U.S. departure itinerary alone. Carry the ICVP in your hand luggage with your passport, and confirm the current rule with the Burundi embassy, relevant health authorities and your airline before departure. The official Burundi entry requirement is the controlling rule at the border.

Recommended vaccinations for American travellers

CDC's Burundi traveller guidance identifies the following priorities. The right schedule depends on age, previous doses, pregnancy, immune status, medical history and the activities planned in Burundi.

Vaccine or prevention	What the research says	Planning point
Yellow fever	Proof is required for travellers from all countries, including the United States.	Ask an authorised travel clinic about vaccination and the ICVP well before departure; carry the certificate.
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	CDC recommends that all international travellers be fully vaccinated against measles.	CDC says travellers should be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before travel; infants aged 6–11 months may need an early dose under CDC international-travel guidance.
Hepatitis A	CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination for unvaccinated travellers younger than 60 travelling to Burundi; unvaccinated travellers aged 60 or older may also be vaccinated before travel.	Discuss the schedule with a clinician, especially if departure is soon.
Routine vaccines	Keep routine vaccinations current before international travel. CDC specifically highlights measles prevention; routine protection should be reviewed with a clinician.	Bring your U.S. immunisation record if available.
Other vaccines	The supplied CDC Burundi guidance does not provide a universal list of additional required vaccines.	A travel-health professional may assess additional protection based on food, animal, rural, medical or close-contact exposure.

Common questions about other destinations—such as "what vaccinations do I need for Kenya?" or "what vaccinations are recommended for U.S. citizens travelling to South Africa for safari?"—do not determine Burundi's rules. Use Burundi-specific guidance and your own itinerary rather than applying a Kenya or South Africa checklist to this trip.

When should you arrange vaccinations?

Arrange a travel-health appointment as early as possible so there is time to review routine immunisations, MMR status, hepatitis A, yellow fever eligibility and malaria medication. CDC's measles guidance says international travellers should be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before departure. The research supplied here does not establish a single universal lead time for every Burundi vaccine, so confirm the timing with your clinician.

If you are pregnant, immunocompromised, aged over 60, travelling with an infant, or have a history of vaccine allergy, seek individual medical advice before receiving yellow fever vaccine. Do not assume a medical waiver will automatically satisfy entry authorities; CDC says travellers relying on a waiver must comply with the destination's entry requirements and present an ICVP indicating the medical waiver.

Malaria in Burundi: risk areas, tablets and prevention

CDC identifies malaria transmission areas as all of Burundi. Chloroquine resistance is reported, and Plasmodium falciparum is the primary species, with P. malariae, P. ovale and P. vivax occurring less commonly.

CDC recommends that travellers going to Burundi take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Listed options are atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine. The correct medicine depends on your health history, other medicines, pregnancy status, duration of travel and the timing of the trip.

Some malaria medicines must be started several days before arrival and continued during and after the trip. CDC specifically advises discussing the choice and schedule with a doctor rather than selecting a tablet independently.

Practical mosquito protection

• Use an insect repellent recommended by your clinician and follow the product label.
• Wear clothing that reduces exposed skin, especially during periods of mosquito activity.
• Use screened or air-conditioned accommodation where available, and sleep under a mosquito net when appropriate.
• Follow the prescribed malaria schedule during the trip and after leaving Burundi.
• Seek medical care promptly for fever during or after travel and explain that you have been in a malaria-risk country.

Malaria prevention is relevant on a safari as well as in towns. A route that includes Rusizi National Park, Kibira or rural communities should be discussed with a travel-health professional because the CDC malaria guidance covers all of Burundi.

Health documents and travel insurance

Pack these documents in your carry-on:

• The original yellow fever ICVP and a separate copy or secure digital backup.
• Your passport and any visa documents required for your trip. The Burundi Embassy states that a valid travel document must have at least six months of validity before expiration for its visa services.
• A list of prescription and non-prescription medicines, including generic names and doses.
• Copies of prescriptions and relevant medical letters, particularly for controlled or injectable medicines.
• Vaccination and immunisation records, if available.
• Travel insurance details, emergency contacts and any medical evacuation information.

The U.S. State Department advises travellers to contact Burundi's Ministry of Public Health about regulations for bringing medication into Burundi. Check that rule before packing medicines, rather than assuming U.S. prescription status is sufficient at the border.

Medical services in Burundi fall well below U.S. standards, and the country does not have adequate trauma services according to the U.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council. Emergency medical and fire services are limited or non-existent in some areas. For that reason, ask an insurer whether your policy covers emergency treatment, medical evacuation and repatriation, and check exclusions for safari or remote-area activities.

Medication rules and what to pack

Bring enough prescribed medicine for the planned trip and a reasonable contingency, subject to your doctor's instructions and Burundi's import rules. Keep medicines in their original labelled packaging and place them in hand luggage. These are practical precautions, not a substitute for checking the Ministry of Public Health's current requirements.

A useful health kit may include prescription malaria prophylaxis, personal prescriptions, oral rehydration supplies, basic wound-care items, insect repellent, sunscreen and any products your clinician recommends. The research does not establish a Burundi-specific list of permitted brands, quantities or medication fees, so confirm any controlled-drug or large-quantity requirement with the official authority before travel.

Food and water precautions are also sensible. Canada's destination health guidance identifies hepatitis A risk and advises vaccination for travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present, as well as safe food and water practices and frequent handwashing.

Health facilities and emergencies in Burundi

Plan on limited access to advanced medical care. OSAC reports that medical services are below U.S. standards, adequate trauma services are unavailable, and emergency services may be limited or non-existent in some parts of the country.

Before departure, identify the medical facilities available near your accommodation and ask your safari operator how it handles illness, injury and evacuation. Keep your insurer's assistance number accessible offline. On a remote itinerary, confirm how transport to a higher-level facility would be arranged and whether the policy covers it.

Do not delay medical assessment for a fever after visiting Burundi. Tell the clinician about your dates, locations, mosquito exposure and malaria medication. CDC lists malaria as a significant travel-health issue for Burundi and recommends prescription prevention for travellers.

For trip planning beyond health documents, review the guide to verifying and comparing Burundi safari operators. Ask the operator for its emergency communications plan, nearest referral facility and insurance documentation before paying for a remote safari.

Before you fly: Burundi health checklist

1. Book a travel-health consultation and review your medical history.
2. Confirm that routine vaccines and MMR protection are current; CDC recommends full measles vaccination for international travellers.
3. Arrange hepatitis A advice if you are unvaccinated.
4. Obtain yellow fever vaccination or discuss an official medical waiver, then secure the ICVP.
5. Ask a doctor to prescribe the malaria medicine that fits your circumstances; CDC lists four recommended options for Burundi.
6. Check every transit airport's yellow fever rules and whether you will pass immigration.
7. Confirm Burundi medication-import rules with the Ministry of Public Health.
8. Buy or verify insurance that addresses treatment and evacuation, especially for rural or safari travel. Burundi's medical services are below U.S. standards.
9. Carry certificates, prescriptions and emergency contacts in hand luggage.

Requirements change, and an airline or border officer may apply the current official rule to your specific itinerary. Confirm health, entry and medication requirements with official sources before travelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do American citizens need a yellow fever certificate for Burundi?

Yes. Burundi requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers from all countries, including the United States. Carry the original International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis with your passport.

Is the yellow fever certificate valid for life in Burundi?

CDC states that a completed ICVP is valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations. Confirm the current Burundi entry rule before travel, particularly if you have an older certificate or a medical waiver.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccine if I only transit through another country?

It depends on the transit itinerary and the rules of the countries involved. CDC advises checking connections where you may pass immigration, leave the airport transit area or face a long layover, because transit countries can apply their own certificate rules.

What vaccinations are recommended for American travellers to Burundi?

CDC recommends full measles vaccination for international travellers, current routine vaccines and hepatitis A vaccination for unvaccinated travellers younger than 60; unvaccinated travellers aged 60 or older may also be vaccinated. Yellow fever proof is an entry requirement for Burundi.

Do Americans need malaria pills for Burundi?

CDC recommends prescription malaria medicine for travellers to Burundi because malaria transmission occurs throughout the country. Listed options are atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine; a doctor should choose the medicine and schedule for you.

Which malaria medicine is best for a Burundi safari?

There is no single best medicine for every traveller. CDC lists atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine, and says the choice should be discussed with a doctor based on personal circumstances and the trip.

When should I see a doctor before travelling to Burundi?

Arrange a travel-health appointment as early as possible. CDC says international travellers should be fully vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before travel, while the timing of other vaccines and malaria medication must be confirmed with a clinician.

Are medical facilities in Burundi adequate for American travellers?

No. OSAC reports that medical services fall below U.S. standards, adequate trauma services are unavailable and emergency services may be limited or non-existent in some areas. Consider insurance that covers treatment and evacuation.

Can I bring prescription medicine into Burundi?

Check the current rules with Burundi's Ministry of Public Health before packing medicines. The U.S. State Department specifically directs travellers to that authority for medication-import regulations; carry prescriptions in original labelled packaging and keep copies of supporting documents.

Do American citizens need a visa for Burundi?

This health guide does not establish the current visa type, fee or processing time for U.S. citizens. For visa requirements and current costs, consult the Burundi visa guide for American citizens and verify the final rule with the Burundi Embassy or official visa portal. The embassy lists passport, application and yellow fever documentation among its visa-service requirements.