Syria

Syria is located on the eastern Mediterranean and borders Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. The population of the country is nearly 19 million. Healthcare in Syria falls under the direction of the Ministry of Health. While many health indicators show evidence of excellent healthcare including life expectancy and infant and maternal mortality, certain areas could use improvement including system factors including health insurance, quality assurance and credentialing of healthcare providers.

Improvements in health can be attributed to vaccination, improved living standards, increasing literacy and access to information and improvements made to assure water quality and access to improved sanitation systems. Hospitals in the larger cities provide good medical care to both Syrian citizens and foreign travelers, while care outside of the cities may not be as readily accessible.

Other important factors are the widespread coverage of primary healthcare services, therapeutic services and availability of emergency and relief system, plus the increased number of health workers.

By cooperation and support from a variety of international experts on healthcare, including the European Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO), Syria has developed a national strategy document for healthcare reform. The President of the Republic approved the plan and issued a law in 2006 to make the plan binding on all executive branches [Page 1640]of government. The plan includes building additional hospitals, improve data management including resources and information availability.

For travelers to Syria, care should be exercised to prevent certain infectious diseases. Malaria from the bite of an infected mosquito causes symptoms of fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting, fatigue occurring at least seven to nine days after being bitten. Malaria infections with Plasmodium falciparum, if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, coma, and death. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice. Medications are available to prevent infection.

In addition to malaria, disease risks in rural areas include leishmaniasis (caused by protozoa transmitted by sand fly bites—symptoms include skin sores and swollen glands near site of bite) and West Nile Virus (from mosquito bites). Protecting against insect bites will help to prevent these diseases. Measles continues to be reported and in Yemen in 2005 Polio was reported.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection found in fresh water in Syria, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. To avoid infection, travelers should not wade, swim or bathe in fresh or untreated water.

Bird flu (the pathogenic H5N1) has been found in poultry populations in the Middle East. To protect against infection, travelers should avoid contact with wild and domestic birds.