Travel Tips India Part 2: Medical Advice

Vaccinations

It is very important that you get the required inoculations before you travel to India. The risks to health while travelling vary between individuals and many things need to be taken on board such as; activities on your holiday, length of holiday and your own personal health prior to departure. Consult your GP or practise nurse who will asses your health risks before recommending vaccines and malarial tablets. You can also visit your countries travel-health website for more information.

The World Health Organisation (www.who.int) make the following recommendations before travelling to India.

• Make sure your primary courses and boosters are up to date - measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations. Also vaccines given to special groups because of risk to exposure or complications (e.g pneumococcal and influenza for the elderly and hepatitis B for health care workers.
• For all travelers they advice: diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis A and typhoid.
• Depending on when and where you go they also advise: hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, cholera.

Proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever is required if you are arriving in India from a country in the yellow fever zone or have been in such a country within the six days prior to arriving in India.

Malaria

Malaria is a very serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted through mosquitoes. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.

• Malaria precautions are necessary in all areas below 2000m, throughout the year. There is very low to no risk in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Sikkim, which are at high altitude. Please note to get to these areas of high altitude you usually travel through a malarious zone.
• Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing long sleeved garments and full length trousers especially after sunset, using mosquito repellent on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.
• Consult your doctor or practice nurse about suitable antimalarial tablets.
• Most importantly if you develop a fever while traveling seek medical attention immediately. Remember malaria can lie dormant and develop up to a year after exposure.