Pakistan Travel Diseases 

Health Precautions for Travel 

Any health risk of travel to Pakistan may be reduced by the following precautionary health measures when visiting Pakistan:

• Take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed

• high rate of motor vehicle trauma - avoid night driving and wear seatbelts

• mosquito bite prevention

• insect bite protection

• snake bite protection

• avoid drinking non-treated water - only drink bottled or canned water

• eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself

• to prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot

• always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases

• don’t eat food purchased from street vendors

• don’t drink beverages with ice

• don’t share needles with anyone

• don’t handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague - risk for travelers is small)

• don’t swim in fresh water. Salt water is usually safer

• use sun block and take sunglasses and a hat

• avoid crowded public places and public transportation whenever possible

• Earthquakes may occur - take care and heed local precautions

malaria
This serious and potentially fatal disease is spread by mosquito bites and is endemic in most countries of the region (the exceptions being Singapore and Brunei). If you are travelling in endemic areas it is extremely important to avoid mosquito bites and to take tablets to prevent this disease. Symptoms range from fever, chills and sweating, headache, diarrhoea and abdominal pains to a vague feeling of ill-health. Seek medical help immediately if malaria is suspected. Without treatment malaria can rapidly become more serious and can be fatal. If medical care is not available, malaria tablets can be used for treatment. There is a variety of medications such as mefloquine, Fansidar and Malarone. You should seek medical advice, before you travel, on the right medication and dosage for you. If you do contract malaria, be sure to be re-tested for malaria once you return home as you can harbour malaria parasites in your body even if you are symptom free. Travellers are advised to prevent mosquito bites at all times. The main messages are: wear light-coloured clothing; wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts; use mosquito repellents containing the compound DEET on exposed areas (prolonged overuse of DEET may be harmful, especially to children, but its use is considered preferable to being bitten by disease-transmitting mosquitoes); avoid perfumes and aftershave.

Use a mosquito net impregnated with mosquito repellent (permethrin) - it may be worth taking your own.