Heath Care & Tips for visiting India
Travel Info
There are fewer regulations, regarding health in India, applicable to foreign tourists. These regulations are more of the nature of prevention than anything else. You are not required to get any vaccines before your trip to India. However, if you have travel plans to India and to avoid any risk, it is recommended to have the following vaccines up to date: Influenza, Hepatitis A/B and Typhoid.
For Covid-19 related information please check our separte section Covid-19 Update
Yellow Fever (Mosquito)
Foreign tourists should carry their Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate conforming to International Health Regulation, if they originate or are transiting through Yellow Fever endemic countries.
The following are regarded as countries and areas with risk of Yellow Fever virus transmission:
Africa:
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.
Central and South America:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad only), and Venezuela.
Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country excluding parts of the states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim. No certificate is required, but a course of anti malaria pills is recommended for all travellers to India. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4 hour intervals), and wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
Cholera (Food and Water)
A cholera vaccination is rarely recommended for travel to India. It may be recommended for some with underlying medical conditions as it has been shown to reduce the risk of travellers’ diarrhoea for a limited time after vaccination. Following safe food and water guidelines and hand washing will reduce risk of infection from this and other food and water borne diseases.
Hepatitis A (Food and Water)
A Hepatitis A vaccination may be required as this viral illness can be transmitted through food and water and it is frequently recommended for most travellers to India.
Hepatitis B (Blood and Body Fluids)
This is transmitted through bodily fluids or blood and vaccination can be considered. A rapid schedule Hepatitis B vaccine is available in combination with Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B is considered a routine vaccination.
Typhoid (Food and Water)
This vaccination is often recommended for those travelling to India, even those who are staying mostly in urban areas, as it is a potentially fatal illness. Two forms of typhoid vaccine are available: an injection or oral form.
- Drink only branded bottled water or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by both filtering through an “absolute 1 micron or less” filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. “Absolute 1 micron filters” are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
- Buy bottled water from respectable outlets to guard against stomach upsets. Some of the better known brands are Bisleri, Kinley, Aquafina, Himalaya etc. Make sure that the seal of the bottle is intact.
- Watch out for spicy dishes, especially at the outset of your tour. Avoid eating food from road side stalls. Eat unpeeled fruits and avoid fresh salads, especially in small hotels. If you are forced to eat food at some place that you have doubts about, make sure the food is served hot.
- Always use an insect repellent if you find yourself in a mosquito-prone area. But remember, not every place is mosquito-infested and low temperatures in winters (when most tourists come to India) kill most bugs in the northern plains and hills.
- If traveling in scorching heat, remember to drink enough water, use hats, sunglasses & UV lotions. Do not venture out in the mid-day sun.
- Pharmacies or chemists are available in every little town and village and you can buy medication. In case you need to see a doctor for a specific condition, ask for help from your hotel (most have doctors on call) or your tour operator. The cost of visiting a doctor is fairly low(less than a dollar) compared to western countries.
Health Kit
In India, most modern medicines are available over the counters in drugstores, but it is wise to travel with a reserve stock. If any prescription drugs are required, bring enough for the duration of the trip. It is advisable that you carry a small health kit which should include remedy for upset stomachs, some antiseptic cream, mosquito repellant cream, suntan/uv lotion, etc.
Caution: This document is not a complete medical guide for travelers to this region. Consult with your doctor for specific information related to your needs and your medical history; recommendations may differ for pregnant women, young children, and persons who have chronic medical conditions.