Health and Safety
Although there are no vaccination requirements when traveling to India, it is recommended that you get vaccinated for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid, rabies, tetanus, measles, and polio.
The main health concerns when traveling to India are mosquito bites and contaminated water. Mosquitoes in India carry many infectious diseases with the two most common being malaria and lymphatic filariasis (a disease affecting the lymph nodes in humans caused by adult worms but transmitted by mosquitoes).
To prevent mosquito infections, wear bug repellant. The most effective bug repellants are those that contain DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide; N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide). Also, when dressing for the outdoors, wear items that cover exposed skin, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
To prevent contracting malaria, ask your health care provider to give you a prescription for an anti-malarial drug.
You should also be very careful with water contamination since it is one the number one reason why most travelers get sick. Travelers’ diarrhea is primarily caused by parasites, bacteria, or viruses that contaminate food and water. Diseases most often associated with water and food contamination are E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, parasites, hepatitis A, and typhoid.
Moreover, be careful when swimming. Make sure you are swimming in a pool that meets with the required hygiene standards so that you do not end up catching various infectious diseases like leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted via the urine of infected animals. Water containing the infected urine can then pass on the disease to humans. There has been no known case where the disease has been spread from human to human. Symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches, and chills.
Hospitals
Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Located on Baba Khadak Singh Marg
Tel: 011 2336 1014
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Located on Ring Road, Ansari Nagar
Tel: 011 2658 8500
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital
Located on the Delhi-Mathura Road
Tel: 011 2692 5858/5801
For Ambulance service call East West Rescue at 011 2469 9229/0429/3738