Waters polluted in recent rains and accumulating waste in the streets of Karachi have caused a big spike in gastrointestinal infections among the city’s children – ‘more than 10,000 cases of diarrhea, gastroenteritis, hepatitis A and E have been reported in various hospitals in the city and it has been increased by 300-fold’, according to a ReliefWeb report.
Advice for travellers
The hepatitis E virus is transmitted mainly through faecal contamination of drinking water. Infection during the latter stages of pregnancy carries a higher rate of severe disease and mortality. Unlike the Hep A and B viruses, there is no vaccine for this strain in Australia, which is especially common in communities with lower levels of sanitation and hygiene. Read more about the virus and how to prevent it.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.