Advice for All Destinations
The risks to health whilst travelling will vary between individuals and many issues need to be taken into account, e.g. activities abroad, length of stay and general health of the traveller. It is recommended that you consult with your General Practitioner or Practice Nurse 6-8 weeks in advance of travel. They will assess your particular health risks before recommending vaccines and /or antimalarial tablets. This is also a good opportunity to discuss important travel health issues including safe food and water, accidents, sun exposure and insect bites. Many of the problems experienced by travellers cannot be prevented by vaccinations and other preventive measures need to be taken.
Measles occurs worldwide and is common in developing countries. The pre-travel consultation is a good opportunity to check that you are immune, either by previous immunisation or natural measles infection.
Ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including repatriation.
A worldwide list of clinics, run by members of the International Society of Travel Medicine is available on the ISTM website.
Immunisation
Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended - including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
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Cholera
Travel health advice relating to cholera.
Spread through consumption of contaminated water and food. More common during floods and after natural disasters, in areas with very poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water. It would be unusual for travellers to contract cholera if they take basic precautions with food and water and maintain a good standard of hygiene.
Last Updated: 6th Aug, 2014
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Diphtheria
Travel health advice relating to diphtheria.
Spread person to person through respiratory droplets. Risk is higher if mixing with locals in poor, overcrowded living conditions.
Last Updated: 8th Sep, 2016
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Hepatitis A
Travel health advice relating to hepatitis A.
Spread through consuming contaminated food and water or person to person through the faecal-oral route. Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation are poor.
Last Updated: 6th Aug, 2014
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Hepatitis B
Travel health advice relating to hepatitis B.
Spread through infected blood and blood products, contaminated needles and medical instruments and sexual intercourse. Risk is higher for those at occupational risk, long stays or frequent travel, children (exposed through cuts and scratches) and individuals who may need, or request, surgical procedures abroad.
Last Updated: 24th Sep, 2015
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Japanese Encephalitis
Travel health advice relating to Japanese encephalitis.
Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. This mosquito breeds in rice paddies and mainly bites between dusk and dawn. Risk is higher for long stay travellers to rural areas, particularly if unable to avoid mosquito bites.
Last Updated: 9th Jun, 2015
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Poliomyelitis
Travel health advice relating to poliomyelitis.
Spread person to person through the faecal-oral route and by consuming contaminated food and water. A total of 5 doses of polio vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended for countries where polio remains a problem.
Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016
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Rabies
Travel health advice relating to rabies.
Spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite, scratch or lick on broken skin. Particularly dogs and related species, but also bats. Risk is higher for those going to remote areas (who may not be able to promptly access appropriate treatment in the event of a bite), long stays, those at higher risk of contact with animals and bats, and children. Even when pre-exposure vaccine has been received, urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal or bat bite.
Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016
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Tetanus
Travel health advice relating to tetanus.
Spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.
Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016
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Typhoid
Travel health advice relating to typhoid.
Spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited.
Last Updated: 11th Aug, 2016
Yellow fever vaccination certificate required for travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited more than 12 hours through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Malaria
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.
Precaution
- Malaria risk is high throughout the year in all areas below 2000m. Risk is highest in rural areas from July to December.
- Malaria precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.
- Check with your doctor or nurse about suitable antimalarial tablets.
- See malaria map – additional information can be found by clicking on the Regional Information icon below the map.
- High risk areas: atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquineis usually advised.
- Low to no risk areas: antimalarials are not usually advised.
- If you have been travelling in a malarious area and develop a fever seek medical attention promptly. Remember malaria can develop even up to one year after exposure.
- If travelling to high risk malarious areas, remote from medical facilities, carrying emergency malaria standby medication may be considered.
Other Health Risks
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Altitude and Travel
This country has either areas with high altitude (2400m or more) or/and areas with very high altitude (3658m or more). Travellers who may go into areas of high altitude should take care to avoid ill effects of being at altitude including Acute Mountain Sickness, a potentially life-threatening condition. -
Dengue Fever
A viral illness that is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. The mosquito that spreads dengue bites during the day and is more common in urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, severe joint, bone and muscular pain - hence its other name 'breakbone fever'. There is no vaccine and prevention is through avoidance of mosquito bites.
Notice Board
Polio Vaccination Exit Recommendations
Travellers visiting this country for longer than 4 weeks maybe advised to have a booster dose of a polio containing vaccine if they have not had one in the past 12 months. They should carry proof of having had this vaccination. Please speak to your travel health adviser to discuss.
Polio Vaccine Requirement for India - As of 1 March 2014, resident nationals of Pakistan are required to receive one dose of oral polio vaccine regardless of age or vaccination status, at least four weeks prior to departure to India. A certificate of vaccination is required when applying for an entry visa to India. This is a requirement of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
In The News
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Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Pakistan (Update) - published 18th Oct, 2016
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 14th Oct, 2016
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Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Pakistan (Update) - published 6th Oct, 2016
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 9th Sep, 2016
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Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Pakistan (Update) - published 31st Aug, 2016
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Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Pakistan - published 2nd Aug, 2016
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 25th May, 2016
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Measles in Pakistan - published 19th Apr, 2016
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 11th Dec, 2015
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Diphtheria in Pakistan (Punjab State) - published 9th Dec, 2015
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan (Update) - published 10th Nov, 2015
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan - published 4th Nov, 2015
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan - published 3rd Sep, 2015
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Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia (Outbreak Declared Over) - published 11th May, 2015
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Bottled Water Quality in Pakistan - published 20th Apr, 2015
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Pertussis (Wooping Cough) in Pakistan - published 29th Jan, 2015
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 29th Dec, 2014
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 10th Nov, 2014
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 20th Oct, 2014
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Measles in Pakistan - published 26th May, 2014
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 6th Dec, 2013
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan (Update) - published 21st Nov, 2013
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan (Update) - published 6th Nov, 2013
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 1st Nov, 2013
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Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Pakistan - published 18th Oct, 2013
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan - published 3rd Oct, 2013
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Cholera in Pakistan - published 5th Sep, 2013
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Poliomyelitis in Pakisatan (Update) - published 23rd Jul, 2013
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Measles in Pakistan (Update) - published 9th Jul, 2013
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Poliomyelitis in Pakistan (Update) - published 17th May, 2013
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Measles in Pakistan (Update) - published 30th Apr, 2013
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Measles in Pakistan (Update) - published 2nd Apr, 2013
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Leishmaniasis in Pakistan - published 5th Dec, 2012
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Measles in Pakistan - published 1st Nov, 2012
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Crimean-Congo Heamorrhagic Fever in Pakistan - published 11th Oct, 2012
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan (Update) - published 21st Sep, 2012
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Poliomyelitis in Pakisatan - published 13th Aug, 2012
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan - published 17th Jul, 2012
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Measles in Pakistan (Update) - published 13th Jun, 2012
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Dengue Fever in Pakistan - published 5th Jun, 2012
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Measles in Pakistan - published 29th May, 2012
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Measles in Pakistan - published 22nd May, 2012