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HEALTH ADVICE FOR VISITORS TO PAKISTAN

This guide is intended for people planning to visit Pakistan. The aim is to raise awareness about potential health risks and what simple steps may be taken to minimise them.

The risks will vary from person to person and will depend upon a number of factors like the length and place of stay, activities and general health of the individual.

IMMUNISATION:

> Your primary courses and boosters should be up-to-date as recommended in Britain.

> You should visit your general practitioner (GP) to have courses and up to date boosters for the following immunisations at least 2 weeks prior to travel:

- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Typhoid
- Polio

> These vaccines are sometimes advised:

- Rabies
- Cholera
- Japanese B Encephalitis

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS:

1). Malaria spreads by mosquito bites but there is no vaccine available against it, therefore precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents and wearing long sleeves etc. You should take suitable anti-malarial tablets like Chloroquine and Proguanil with you.

2). Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis, Gastroenteritis (diarrhoea) and Cholera spread through contaminated food and water. It is recommended that you drink bottled / boiled water at all times. 95% of germs are killed when water is boiled continuously for 20 minutes. You should also wash your hands thoroughly before and after meals.

3). Rabies is a serious condition that spreads via infected animal bites. You should seek immediate medical help following any animal bite even if you have been immunised against rabies previously.

4). Tuberculosis (TB) is most commonly transmitted via droplet infections / breathing. You must avoid close contact with known TB patients. The prevalence of TB is very high all over Asia, therefore special care must be taken. Please note that even immunisation cannot provide 100% protection.

5). Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, AIDS and Syphilis can spread via infected blood or body secretions or extra marital relationships. It is estimated that 15% of the population in Pakistan is a carrier of Hepatitis. You must take special care to protect yourself from these fatal infections as below:

> Re-use of syringes is still prevalent in parts of the country. We recommend that you should never accept any injections from any doctor unless it is absolutely essential, for example to save life.

> Take some disposable needles and syringes with you from the UK which can be used should the need arise.

> The blood used for transfusion is not screened for infections in many parts of the country. It will be in your best interests to ask for screening for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilis and Malaria if a transfusion is required.

> If you should suffer from diarrhoea, please consult a doctor early and keep your body fluids well topped up to minimise the need for fluids via drip.

> When visiting a barber for a haircut or shave, ensure he / she uses a new blade.

Always keep yourself and your family safe!

Free copies of this leaflet can be downloaded from Association of Pakistani Physicians & Surgeons website: www.appsuk.org