Health
Recife, like all of Brazil, has a public health system for Brazilian and foreign citizens and tourists. Across the city there are Emergency Care Units (UPA) available. In case of emergency, call the Emergency Mobile Service (Samu) at number 192. The call is free.
Basic Care
- Recife has a tropical climate and depending on the time of year it is sunny all day. For this reason, it is advisable to constantly drink liquids to avoid dehydration.
- Wear comfortable clothing and protect yourself from the sun with hat (or cap), sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Always carry insect repellents touse when needed.
- Avoid consuming food in poor preparation and packaging conditions.
- During bike or hiking trips, prefer to carry food that can run out of refrigeration and that does not spoil with the heat.
Zika virus, Dengue and Chikungunya Prevention
To make it difficult for mosquitoes to transmit all three diseases, it is necessary to wear repellents and long-sleeved clothing (especially in the early morning and late afternoon). If symptoms such as fever, itching, headache, pain behind the eyes, pain in the body and joints or red spots appear on the body, the Ministry of Health advises to seek a health unit and drink plenty of liquid.
Zika is the main cause of increased microcephaly in infants and is of particular concern for pregnant women and women intending to become pregnant in the months following the trip.
Pregnant women should use only medications prescribed by health professionals, perform a qualified prenatal care with exams scheduled at that stage, and report any changes during pregnancy. In addition to the use of repellents and long-sleeved clothing, it is also advisable to avoid the accumulation of still water.
The City of Recife has drawn up a plan with the State Government and the Federal Government to combat the mosquito that transmits Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. The plan involves group work in several neighborhoods of the city and campaigns of consciousness.
Vaccines
To enter Brazil, it is not mandatory to vaccinate against any type of disease and Recife is not part of the areas that are recommended to prevent diseases such as yellow fever and malaria.
