Travelers should also take insect repellent with them to use on any exposed areas of the skin. Travelers should also purchase a flying insect-killing spray to use in living and sleeping areas during the evening and night. If applied according to the directions, permethrin will repel insects from clothing for several weeks. Traveler's diarrhea is the most frequent health problem for travelers. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites which are found universally throughout the region.
Transmission is most often through contaminated food or water.
Travelers to the East Africa are at risk for typhoid fever, especially when traveling to smaller cities, villages, or rural areas. By drinking only bottled or boiled water and eating only thoroughly cooked food, a traveler lowers the risk of infection. Therefore, even vaccinated travelers should be cautious in selecting their food and water. CDC recommends a typhoid vaccination for those travelers who are going off the usual tourist itineraries, traveling to smaller cities and rural areas, or staying long term, that is, a traveler for six weeks or more. Typhoid vaccination is not required for international travel.