Flying Through Addis Ababa? The Altitude Warning Nigerians With Heart or Lung Conditions Should Read

You land at Bole airport for a four-hour layover. But Addis Ababa altitude is real: the city sits about 2,355 metres above sea level, where every breath carries less oxygen.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says 16 Nigerians transiting the city have died this year from complications reportedly linked to that thin air. The ministry’s travel advisory says most healthy people adjust, but those with heart or lung disease face higher risk.

If you live with heart disease, high blood pressure, COPD, severe asthma or sickle cell disease, see your doctor before booking and ask whether another route is safer. Carry your medicines in hand luggage, skip alcohol, and report chest pain or breathlessness at once.

This is not a travel ban. Our Detty December health checklist covers the rest.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.