Severe flooding in Pakistan - health advice
02 Sep 2022
Pakistan has been affected by severe flooding, with more than a third of the country under water after the heaviest monsoon rains in a decade.
Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provinces have been worst affected, with flash floods and landslides occurring along the Indus and Kabul rivers. More than 1,000 people have died and millions of people have been made homeless.
Advice for travellers
- The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has advised against travel to certain parts of Pakistan.
- The United Nations has published full details of the flooded areas.
- If you intend to go to Pakistan, you should arrange to have a travel health consultation before you travel.
In addition to the risk of injury or death, the floods are expected to lead to serious health problems:
Mosquito-borne disease
- The risk of mosquito-borne disease is likely to increase. Malaria and dengue fever are widespread in Pakistan and are likely to become more common.
- You should protect yourself against mosquito bites at all times.
- In addition to the usual high risk malarious parts of Pakistan, antimalarial tablets are now recommended if you are travelling to flooded areas of the country.
Food- and water-borne disease
- The risk of food and water-borne infection increases in flooded areas. You should take food and water precautions at all times.
- Serious infections like typhoid, cholera and hepatitis A are likely to become more common. Vaccination against these should be discussed with a travel health professional.
Other precautions
- You should make sure before you travel to Pakistan that you are up to date with the UK schedule vaccines.
- Polio is present in Pakistan. You may need a polio booster before you travel, speak to a travel health professional if you are unsure. Further information on polio exit requirements for Pakistan is available under Alerts.
See the fitfortravel Pakistan page for further information.