Health risks

Pakistan is a developing country. Its elected government was overthrown by the military in October 1999, and it is now ruled by President Pervez Musharraf and an appointed civilian cabinet.

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CRIME: Crime is a serious concern for foreigners throughout Pakistan, with violent crime increasing faster than any other category. Carjackings, armed robberies, house invasions and other violence against civilians have increased steadily in the major urban areas. Lahore and Karachi, in particular, experience high levels of crime.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Adequate medical care is available in major cities in Pakistan, but it is limited in rural areas. With the exception of the Agha Khan Hospital in Karachi and Doctors' Hospital in Lahore, travellers may find hospital care and cleanliness below Western standards. Medical facilities often require prepayment and do not accept credit cards.

Arthropodborne diseases:

Malaria
Leishmaniasis
Plague
Dengue fever
Japanese encephalitis

We recommend:

Usage of long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects
Usage og insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%–35% strength for adults and 6%–10% for children. Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
Usage of a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin.
Staying and sleeping in air-conditioned houses

Water- and foodborne diseases:

Amoebiasis
Typhoid fever
Brucellosis
Cholora
ETEC (E.coli)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis E
Giardiasis
Echinococcosis

Other diseases:

Hepatitis B
Rabies

Vaccination recommended:

Hepatitis A or Immune Globulin
Hepatitis B or Immune Globulin
Japanese encephalitis - only if you plan to visit rural areas for more than four weeks
Typhoid fever - vaccination is particularly important because of the presence of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in this region
Rabies - if risk for contact with wild or domestic animals
A booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within th last 10 years.
Yellow fever when entering from a yellow fever endemic region

Stay healthy:

Wash hands often with soap and water.
Drink only boiled water, or water and carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans
Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it
Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
Prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot
Do not travel at night
Trafic accidents are frequent, be careful
Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.
Use chloroquine and proguanil as malaria prophylaxis below 2000 m (Chloroquine resistance)

Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever certificate if arriving from any part of a country in which yellow fever is endemic. Exempt infants under 6 months if the mothers vaccination certificate shows that she was vaccinated prior to the birth of the child.

Recommended immunisations: diphtheria, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *Japanese B encephalitis, *malaria, polio, *TB, tetanus, typhoid.
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: malaria exists all year throughout the country below 2,000 metres. Rabies.

Blood transfusion & tissue transplantation risk according to UK BTS:

Malaria: Yes, All year in whole country
Maliaria Risk Category: A
Trypanasoma Cruzi Risk: No
Sub Saharan Africa: No
West Nile Virus Risk: No
Chikungunya Virus Risk: No

Yellow fever vaccination requirements and recommendations and malaria situation in Pakistan
Food and Water Safety
HIV Risk
Check travelers health risks by CDC before, after and while traveling to Pakistan and prevention before arrival at Pakistan.

Travel data, health safety, warnings and recommendations for Canadian who willing to visit Pakistan