Malaria in Pakistan
20 Oct 2022
World Health Organization have reported an increase in malaria cases in Pakistan. From January through to August 2022, more than 3.4 million suspected cases of malaria were reported in Pakistan compared with 2.6 million suspected cases reported in 2021. The recent flood crisis that began in mid-June has resulted in a surge in cases in Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
Advice for Travellers
Malaria is a potentially serious infection that is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites.
If you are travelling to Pakistan, you should:
- understand your risk of malaria, given the current increase in cases
- know how to protect yourself against mosquito bites during your trip
- talk to a travel health professional to find out if you may need to take tablets to prevent malaria (antimalarials) during your trip
Also, if you are visiting areas in Pakistan usually at high risk for malaria or areas affected by the recent flooding:
- antimalarial tablets are recommended and you should make an appointment with a travel health professional
If you develop a high temperature (fever) during your trip, or if you have recently returned from a country where malaria is a risk, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible and tell the doctor about your recent travel history.
See the fitfortravel malaria section for further information.
For further information on other potential health risks associated with the flooding in Pakistan, please see the news item posted on 2 September 2022.