The Czech Embassy in Addis Ababa published an urgent health advisory on the evening of 11 December warning citizens and resident expatriates of a significant malaria outbreak across Ethiopia. Citing UNICEF figures, the notice says more than 1.4 million cases and 51 deaths were recorded between 1 September and 31 October, with transmission rising in both lowland and highland regions that are popular with business travellers and development workers.
The embassy recommends that all visitors consult a travel-medicine specialist before departure, begin prophylactic medication as appropriate, and rigorously apply mosquito-avoidance measures such as repellents, treated nets and long-sleeved clothing. Travellers experiencing fever, chills or headaches during or after their trip are urged to seek immediate medical care, as delayed treatment dramatically increases the risk of complications.
For Czech corporations with operations in East Africa – notably engineering firms involved in infrastructure projects and NGOs running EU-funded programmes – the advisory carries practical implications. Employers should review duty-of-care policies, ensure insurance plans cover medical evacuation and malaria treatment, and verify that on-site clinics stock rapid-diagnostic tests as well as Artemisinin-based combination therapies. Companies may also wish to stagger non-essential travel until case numbers subside.
![Addis Ababa Embassy Issues Malaria Alert for Czech Travellers to Ethiopia]()
Alongside medical preparations, Czech passport holders should also confirm that their visas and travel documents are fully in order. VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) provides a streamlined online service that guides travellers through Ethiopia’s e-visa process, offers up-to-date document checklists, and tracks applications in real time—freeing corporate mobility teams to focus on health and security planning rather than paperwork.
The alert comes just two weeks after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revised its Foreign Travel Risk Map, upgrading several Ethiopian regions from “green” to “amber”. Combined with ongoing security-related travel warnings for parts of the Amhara and Oromia regions, the health situation underscores the need for robust pre-trip risk assessments.
In the longer term, mobility teams should monitor Ethiopian health-sector capacity and regional rainfall patterns, which strongly influence malaria cycles. As climate variability intensifies, companies could face more frequent health disruptions in markets where they rely on Czech assignees.
The embassy recommends that all visitors consult a travel-medicine specialist before departure, begin prophylactic medication as appropriate, and rigorously apply mosquito-avoidance measures such as repellents, treated nets and long-sleeved clothing. Travellers experiencing fever, chills or headaches during or after their trip are urged to seek immediate medical care, as delayed treatment dramatically increases the risk of complications.
For Czech corporations with operations in East Africa – notably engineering firms involved in infrastructure projects and NGOs running EU-funded programmes – the advisory carries practical implications. Employers should review duty-of-care policies, ensure insurance plans cover medical evacuation and malaria treatment, and verify that on-site clinics stock rapid-diagnostic tests as well as Artemisinin-based combination therapies. Companies may also wish to stagger non-essential travel until case numbers subside.
Alongside medical preparations, Czech passport holders should also confirm that their visas and travel documents are fully in order. VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) provides a streamlined online service that guides travellers through Ethiopia’s e-visa process, offers up-to-date document checklists, and tracks applications in real time—freeing corporate mobility teams to focus on health and security planning rather than paperwork.
The alert comes just two weeks after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revised its Foreign Travel Risk Map, upgrading several Ethiopian regions from “green” to “amber”. Combined with ongoing security-related travel warnings for parts of the Amhara and Oromia regions, the health situation underscores the need for robust pre-trip risk assessments.
In the longer term, mobility teams should monitor Ethiopian health-sector capacity and regional rainfall patterns, which strongly influence malaria cycles. As climate variability intensifies, companies could face more frequent health disruptions in markets where they rely on Czech assignees.
