Health risks

India is an economically developing democratic republic. Tourist facilities varying in degree of comfort and amenities are widely available in the major population centers and main tourist areas.

Ads

AREAS OF INSTABILITY AND TERRORISM: JAMMU and KASHMIR The Department of State strongly urges private citizens to avoid all travel to the Kashmir Valley, Doda district, and Srinagar in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. These are areas of ongoing terrorist activities and violent civil disturbances.

AREAS OF INSTABILITY: NORTHEAST STATES - Sporadic incidents of violence by ethnic insurgent groups, including the bombing of buses and trains, are reported from parts of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya.

AREAS OF INSTABILITY: INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER - Tensions run high between India and Pakistan, particularly over Kashmir. The only official India-Pakistan border crossing point is between Atari, India, and Wagah, Pakistan. A Pakistani visa is required for entry into Pakistan. Since January 1, the border crossing has been closed due to tensions between India and Pakistan, and all commercial travel links, including air, train and bus, between India and Pakistan have been suspended. Travelers are advised to confirm the current status of the border crossing prior to commencing travel.

Both India and Pakistan claim an area of the Karakoram mountain range that includes the Siachen Glacier. The two countries have military outposts in the region, and armed clashes have occurred.

CRIME INFORMATION: Petty crime, especially theft of personal property, is common. Although violent crime is uncommon, some Westerners, have been the victims of robberies and violent attacks that resulted in serious injuries and, in two recent cases, death. The common thread for most attacks on travellers has been that the travelers were traveling on their own. Travellers are cautioned not to travel alone in India.

Travellers arriving at major tourist points such as airports and train stations have to use pre-paid taxis as much as possible. There have been a number of cases where drivers and others have solicited travelers with "come-on" offers of cheap transportation and/or hotels. Such travellers often then find themselves the victims of various scams, including disproportionately expensive hotel rooms, unwanted "tours," unwelcome "purchases," and even threats when the tourists try to decline to pay. There have also been unconfirmed reports of individual tourists being given drugged drinks or tainted food to make them more vulnerable to theft. Travelers should exercise significant care when hiring transportation and/or guides.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND INSURANCE: Adequate to excellent medical care is available in the major population centers, but it is usually very limited or unavailable in rural areas.

Arthropodborne diseases:

Malaria
Leishmaniasis
Filariasis
Dengue fever
Japanese encephalitis
Plague
Relapsing fever

We recommend:

Usage of long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects
Usage og insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%–35% strength for adults and 6%–10% for children. Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
Usage of a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin.
Staying and sleeping in air-conditioned houses

Water- and foodborne diseases:

Amoebiasis
Typhoid fever
Brucellosis
Cholora
ETEC (E.coli)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis E
Giardiasis
Echinococcosis

Other diseases:

Hepatitis B
Rabies

Vaccination recommended:

Hepatitis A or Immune Globulin
Hepatitis B or Immune Globulin
Japanese encephalitis - only if you plan to visit rural areas for more than four weeks
Typhoid fever - vaccination is particularly important because of the presence of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in this region
Rabies - if risk for contact with wild or domestic animals
A booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within th last 10 years.
Yellow fever when entering from a yellow fever endemic region

Stay healthy:

Wash hands often with soap and water.
Drink only boiled water, or water and carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans
Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it
Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
Prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot
Do not travel at night
Trafic accidents are frequent, be careful
Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.
Use chloroquine and proguanil as malaria prophylaxis below 2000 m from June to November.(Chloroquine resistance)

Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever certificate if arriving: a) within 6 days from an infected area b) has been in transit in an infected area (except those who while in transit through an airport in an infected area, remained within the airport during the period of their entire stay) c) has come on a ship that started or disembarked at any port in an infected area up to 30 days before arrival in India (unless it has been disinsected) d) has come on an aircraft which has been in an infected area and has not been disinsected. The following countries and areas are regarded as infected: Africa; Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Rep, Chad, Congo, Congo Dem Rep, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda & Zambia Americas; Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago & Venezuela Exempt infants under 6 months. Note: When a case of yellow fever is reported from any country, that country is regarded as infected and is added to the list above.

Recommended immunisations: diphtheria, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *Japanese B encephalitis, *malaria, polio, *TB, tetanus, typhoid * recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: malaria exists all year below 2,000 metres except in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Sikkim. Rabies.

Blood transfusion & tissue transplantation risk according to UK BTS:

Malaria: Yes, All year in whole country
Maliaria Risk Category: A
Trypanasoma Cruzi Risk: No
Sub Saharan Africa: No
West Nile Virus Risk: No
Chikungunya Virus Risk: Yes

Yellow fever vaccination requirements and recommendations and malaria situation in India
Food and Water Safety
HIV Risk
Check travelers health risks by CDC before, after and while traveling to India and prevention before arrival at India.

Travel data, health safety, warnings and recommendations for Canadian who willing to visit India.