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India Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

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After Your Trip

Be aware of current health issues in India. Learn how to protect yourself.

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Cholera is  presumed to be present  in India. Cholera is rare in travelers.  Certain factors  may increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease ( more information ). Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera. Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera.

Vaccination may be considered for children and adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.

Cholera - CDC Yellow Book

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to India.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to India. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to India.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Japanese Encephalitis

Recommended for travelers who

• Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live
• Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis
• Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis

Consider vaccination for travelers

• Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets
• Going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there

Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season. 

Japanese encephalitis - CDC Yellow Book

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for US Children

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of India take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. 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. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Find  country-specific information  about malaria.

Malaria - CDC Yellow Book

Considerations when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis (CDC Yellow Book)

Malaria information for India.

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Rabid dogs are commonly found in India. However, if you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in India, rabies treatment is often available. 

Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.

Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include

• Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
• Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
• Visitors to rural areas

Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to India. 

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Typhoid - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Typhoid

Yellow Fever

• Arrive within 6 days of leaving an area with risk for YF virus transmission, or
• Have been in such an area in transit (exception: passengers and members of flight crews who, while in transit through an airport in an area with risk for YF virus transmission, remained in the airport during their entire stay and the health officer agrees to such an exemption), or
• Arrive on a ship that started from or touched at any port in an area with risk for YF virus transmission ≤30 days before its arrival in India, unless such a ship has been disinsected in accordance with the procedure recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), or
• Arrive on an aircraft that has been in an area with risk for YF virus transmission and has not been disinsected in accordance with the Indian Aircraft Public Health Rules, 1954, or as recommended by WHO.
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Yellow Fever - CDC Yellow Book

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Avoid bug bites.

Chikungunya

• Mosquito bite
• Avoid Bug Bites

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever

• Tick bite 
• Touching the body fluids of a person or animal infected with CCHF
• Mosquito bite

Leishmaniasis

• Sand fly bite
• An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby

Airborne & droplet

Avian/bird flu.

• Being around, touching, or working with infected poultry, such as visiting poultry farms or live-animal markets
• Avoid domestic and wild poultry
• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in India, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in India. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Some diseases in India—such as dengue, Zika, filariasis, and leishmaniasis—are spread by bugs and cannot be prevented with a vaccine. Follow the insect avoidance measures described above to prevent these and other illnesses.

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in India include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Schistosomiasis and leptospirosis, infections that can be spread in fresh water, are found in India. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call India’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Malaria is a risk in India. Fill your malaria prescription before you leave and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of India may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in India, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

For information traffic safety and road conditions in India, see Travel and Transportation on US Department of State's country-specific information for India .

Traffic flows on the left side of the road in India.

• Always pay close attention to the flow of traffic, especially when crossing the street.
• LOOK RIGHT for approaching traffic.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

To call for emergency services while in India, dial 100 or, from a mobile phone, 112. Write these numbers down to carry with you during your trip.

Learn as much as you can about India before you travel there. A good place to start is the country-specific information on India from the US Department of State.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for India for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

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Travel Vaccines and Advice for India

The Taj Mahal, Hampi, the Himalayans and the Caves of Ajanta are just the beginning for amazing sights in India. For thousands of years, the subcontinent has been the cradle of one of the most amazing cultures to visit.

Every year, tourists from around the globe flock to India to see its amazing sights and sounds. Whether you are a spiritual pilgrim, a business executive or an adventure seeker, India is sure to have something for you.

Do I Need Vaccines for India?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for India. The National Travel Health Network and Centre and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for India: hepatitis A , hepatitis B , typhoid , cholera , yellow fever , Japanese encephalitis , rabies , polio and tetanus .

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunisations:

• Hepatitis A – Food & Water – Recommended for most travellers to the region, especially if unvaccinated.
• Hepatitis B – Blood & Body Fluids – Recommended for travellers to most regions.
• Tetanus – Wounds or Breaks in Skin – Recommended for travellers to most regions, especially if not previously vaccinated.
• Typhoid – Food & Water – Jab lasts 3 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator.
• Cholera – Food & Water – A risk for travellers throughout India. Avoid swimming in popular rivers or streams as cholera may be present.
• Yellow Fever – Mosquito – Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
• Japanese Encephalitis – Mosquito – Recommended for all regions except: Dadra, Daman, Diu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Nagar Haveli, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.
• Rabies – Saliva of Infected Animals – High risk country. Vaccine recommended for long-stay travellers and those who may come in contact with animals.
• Polio – Food & Water – May be required if arriving from countries with active transmission. Recommended for some travellers to the region. Single adult booster recommended.

See the tables below for more information:

Some mosquito-borne diseases are also prevalent in India including:

• Malaria – Antimalarial medication is recommened for many regions in India. Speak with a travel health specialist to learn if these are right for your itinerary.
• Dengue Fever – Another mosquito-borne disease, dengue affects millions each year. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination against dengue approved in the United States. Ensure you take precautions against mosquitoes like using repellents and mosquito netting.

Fortunately, the Zika virus has yet to arrive in India.

To learn more about these infections, see their respective vaccination or infection pages.

If you are travelling to India, ensure you are protected. Visit your local Passport Health to receive a comprehensive consultation on what you will need to stay safe. Book your appointment online now or ring us up at and ensure your dream trip doesn’t become a nightmare.

How To Prevent Delhi Belly (Traveller’s diarrhoea)

Delhi Belly (or traveller’s diarrhoea ) is very common amongst travellers. Up to 70 percent of international travellers will come down with traveller’s diarrhoea during their trips. This is especially true for visitors to India.

Causes can range from viral or bacteria infections to just a difference in cuisine. But, no matter how it happens, traveller’s diarrhoea can ruin a trip.

There are a few precautions you can take to avoid traveller’s diarrhoea:

• Avoid risky eating – Be smart about where and what you eat. Street carts may not be the best place to grab a snack, but you also don’t need to only eat pre-packaged foods. Use good judgement to decide where would be best to chow down.
• Consider preventative care – Some products, like Travelan, will provide you with some protection against traveller’s diarrhoea.

Be sure to bring a traveller’s diarrhoea kit that includes antibiotics or similar products that can help stop diarrhoea if it occurs.

To learn more about what you can do to avoid Delhi Belly, see our traveller’s diarrhoea page . Or, book an appointment with your local Passport Health by calling or scheduling online now .

Do I Need a Visa or Passport for India?

Visas are required for all travellers to India. Passport requirements are a bit more intensive than other regions. Passports must have 180 days validity from the date of visa application and another 180 days from the time of entry. Ensure you have this amount of remaining time before expiration at minimum. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required if you are travelling from a region where yellow fever is present.

Sources: Embassy of India and GOV.UK

What Is the Climate Like In India?

India is generally classified as a hot tropical country, except for the Himalayan north. The country has three distinct seasons:

• Summer (March to June) – Indian summers are very hot. Temperatures often climb to over 43 degrees.
• Monsoon (July to August) – The rainy season brings thunderstorms and heavy rains. These sometimes cause flooding or other damage. Bring an umbrella and be sure to take other precautions.
• Winter (October to February) – Winter temperatures are generally mild. Except in the northern regions where they will dip to near or below freezing. Remember, the higher into the mountains you go, the chillier it will get.

How Safe Is India?

India is generally safe, but is still a developing country in many ways. Try to avoid the Indian-Pakistani border, as growing tensions have led to a less safe situation.

Petty crime, especially theft is common. This happens mostly in trains and buses. Pickpocketing is known to occur in some tourist areas. Violent crime is traditionally uncommon, though there has been a slight increase in recent years.

Scamming has become more common in many popular areas. Be especially careful in airports and train stations. If an offer for transportation or hotel rooms on the cheap seems too good, it probably is. Only use well-known travel agencies when booking your trip and planning activities in-country.

LGBT individuals will want to be especially careful as laws on homosexuality are unclear. While prosecution is rare, LGBT visitors may wish to avoid drawing attention.

What Should I Pack For India?

Packing for India can be a bit tricky, as the country is different from many popular travel destinations:

• Pack light – Moving from place to place in India can be a bit tricky. Many forms of transportation have a tight fit and having something you can easily haul around is key. Brining an extra rucksack isn’t a bad idea either as a purse or small bag may not be enough to carry water, an umbrella and similar items.
• Prepare for weather – Be sure to pack according to what season you’ll be in the country. Where you are headed is also a key factor as the Himalayas are a much cooler region.
• Wear the right footwear – You’ll likely be doing a lot of walking (or even standing) in India. Ensure your shoes are up for the trip, your feet will thank you.

Where Is the Embassy of the United Kingdom in India?

If you are in India and have an emergency (for example, been attacked, arrested or someone has died) contact the nearest consular services. Contact the embassy before arrival if you have additional questions on entry requirements, safety concerns or are in need of assistance.

British High Commission New Delhi Shantipath, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110021 India Telephone: +91 (11) 2419 2100 Emergency Phone: +91 (11) 2419 2100 Fax: +91 (11) 2419 2492 Contact Form: Click Here

Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, India is an amazing destination. From the Himalyas to the coast of the Indian Ocean, the country’s peculiar culture and feel has something for every type of traveller.

To learn more about what you can do to prepare for an Indian trip, visit your local Passport Health clinic. Book your appointment today by calling or scheduling online now.

On This Page: Do I Need Vaccines for India? How To Prevent Delhi Belly (traveller’s diarrhoea) What Are the Entry and Exit Requirements for India? What Is the Climate Like In India? How Safe Is India? What Should I Pack For India? Where Is the Embassy of the United Kingdom in India?

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Travel Vaccines and Advice for India

The Taj Mahal, Hampi, the Himalayas and the Caves of Ajanta are just the beginning for amazing sights in India. For thousands of years, the subcontinent has been the cradle of one of the most amazing cultures to visit.

Every year, tourists from around the globe flock to India to see its amazing sights and sounds. Whether you are a spiritual pilgrim, a business executive or an adventure seeker, India is sure to have something for you.

Do I Need Vaccines for India?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for India. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for India: hepatitis A , hepatitis B , typhoid , cholera , yellow fever , Japanese encephalitis , rabies , meningitis , polio , measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) , Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) , chickenpox , shingles , pneumonia and influenza .

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for travel to all regions, both foreign and domestic. Check with your local Passport Health clinic if immunization is offered in your area.

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunizations:

• COVID-19 – Airborne & Direct Contact – Recommended for all unvaccinated individuals who qualify for vaccination
• Hepatitis A – Food & Water – Recommended for most travelers
• Hepatitis B – Blood & Body Fluids – Accelerated schedule available
• Typhoid – Food & Water – Shot lasts 2 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator.
• Cholera – Food & Water – A risk for travelers throughout India. Avoid swimming in popular rivers or streams as cholera may be present. Vaccination is recommended for some travelers.
• Yellow Fever – Mosquito – Required if traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
• Japanese Encephalitis – Mosquito – Recommended for all regions except: Dadra, Daman, Diu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Nagar Haveli, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.
• Rabies – Saliva of Infected Animals – High risk country. Vaccine recommended for long-term travelers and those who may come in contact with animals.
• Polio – Food & Water – May be required if arriving from countries with active transmission. Recommended for some travelers to the region. Single adult booster recommended.
• Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) – Various Vectors – Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended.
• TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) – Wounds & Airborne – Only one adult booster of pertussis required.
• Chickenpox – Direct Contact & Airborne – Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox.
• Shingles – Direct Contact – Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles.
• Pneumonia – Airborne – Two vaccines given separately. All 65+ or immunocompromised should receive both.
• Influenza – Airborne – Vaccine components change annually.
• Meningitis – Airborne & Direct Contact – Given to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk, especially students.

See the tables below for more information:

Some mosquito-borne diseases are also prevalent in India including:

• Malaria – Antimalarial medication is recommended for many regions in India. Speak with a travel health specialist to learn if these are right for your itinerary.
• Dengue Fever – Another mosquito-borne disease, dengue affects millions each year. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination against dengue approved in the United States. Make sure you take precautions against mosquitoes like using repellents and mosquito netting.

Fortunately, the Zika virus has yet to arrive in India.

To learn more about these infections, see their respective vaccination or infection pages.

If you are traveling to India, make sure you are protected. Visit your local Passport Health to receive a comprehensive consultation on what you will need to stay safe. Book your appointment online now or call us at and make sure your dream trip doesn’t become a nightmare.

Do I Need A Yellow Fever Vaccine for India?

The yellow fever vaccine is not recommended for travelers to India. However, a yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry to India. If you are coming to India from a country where yellow fever is present you may be required to show proof of immunization. For example, if you are traveling from some South American countries to India, proof of yellow fever immunization may be required.

How To Prevent Delhi Belly (Travelers’ Diarrhea)

Delhi Belly (or travelers’ diarrhea ) is very common among travelers. Up to 70 percent of international travelers will come down with travelers’ diarrhea during their trips. This is especially true for visitors to India.

Causes can range from viral or bacteria infections to just a difference in cuisine. But, no matter how it happens, travelers’ diarrhea can ruin a trip.

There are a few precautions you can take to avoid travelers’ diarrhea:

• Avoid risky eating – Be smart about where and what you eat. Street carts may not be the best place to grab a snack, but you also don’t need to only eat pre-packaged foods. Use good judgment to decide where would be best to chow down.
• Watch what you drink – Indian water can be contaminated with bacteria and other biologics that could cause travelers’ diarrhea. Be sure anything you drink is clean. If at a restaurant, do not drink anything with ice as it is likely made from unclean water.
• Consider preventative care – Some products, like AssureGI, will provide you with some protection against travelers’ diarrhea.

Be sure to bring a travelers’ diarrhea kit that includes antibiotics or similar products that can help stop diarrhea if it occurs.

To learn more about what you can do to avoid Delhi Belly, see our travelers’ diarrhea page . Or, book an appointment with your local Passport Health by calling or scheduling online now .

Do I Need a Visa or Passport for India?

India requires all U.S. travelers have a visa prior to entering the country. Visa requirements vary based on the purpose of travel, length of stay and family background. A passport with at least six months validity is also required.

Sources: Embassy of India and U.S. State Department

What Is the Climate Like In India?

India is a big country, the weather can be different depending on where you go. Here’s some information about the weather in some of India’s most popular places:

• Goa: Goa is a beach place in India. The best time to go is from November to February when the weather is dry and comfortable.
• Delhi: Delhi is a city in India. The best time to go is from October to March when the weather is good.
• Mumbai: Mumbai is a city in India. The best time to go is from November to February when it’s cooler.
• Jaipur: Jaipur is a city in India. The best time to go is from October to March when the weather is good.
• Agra: Agra is a city in India. The best time to go is from November to March when the weather is good.
• Kerala: Kerala is a place in India with lots of rain. The best time to go is from September to March when it’s dry.

Remember that the weather can change every year, so it’s always a good idea to check before you go.

How Safe Is India?

Avoid an embarrassing stop, over 70% of travelers will have diarrhea., get protected with passport health’s travelers’ diarrhea kit .

India is generally safe, but is still a developing country in many ways. Try to avoid the Indian-Pakistani border, as growing tensions have led to a less safe situation.

Petty crime, especially theft is common. This happens mostly in trains and buses. pick-pocketing is known to occur in some tourist areas. Violent crime is traditionally uncommon, though there has been a slight increase in recent years.

Scamming has become more common in many popular areas. Be especially careful in airports and train stations. If an offer for cheap transportation or hotel rooms seems too good, it probably is. Only use well-known travel agencies when booking your trip and planning activities in-country.

LGBT individuals will want to be especially careful as laws on homosexuality are unclear. While prosecution is rare, LGBT visitors may wish to avoid drawing attention.

What Should I Pack For India?

Packing for India can be a bit tricky, as the country is different from many popular travel destinations:

• Pack light – Moving from place to place in India can be a bit tricky. Many forms of transportation have a tight fit and having something you can easily haul around is key. Bringing an extra backpack isn’t a bad idea either as a purse or small bag may not be enough to carry water, an umbrella and similar items.
• Prepare for weather – Be sure to pack according to what season you’ll be in the country. Where you are headed is also a key factor as the Himalayas are a much cooler region.
• Wear the right footwear – You’ll likely be doing a lot of walking (or even standing) in India. Make sure your shoes are up for the trip, your feet will thank you.
• Bring a complete first-aid kit – The CDC has a complete list of recommended health items which can be found here . Some notable items include: sunscreen, insect repellent, hand sanitizer and diarrhea medicine like DiaResQ or other remedies.

Where Is the U.S. Embassy in India?

The State Department recommends all travelers to India enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive automated notifications from the U.S. Embassy. This program provides important information to travelers about potential threats in countries you may be visiting.

The U.S. Embassy in India is located at:

U.S. Embassy New Delhi Shantipath, Chanakyapuri New Delhi – 110021 India Telephone: +(91) (11) 2419-8000 Fax: +(91) (11) 2419-8407

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, India is an absolutely amazing destination. From the Himalayas to the coast of the Indian Ocean, the country’s unique culture and feel has something for every type of traveler.

To learn more about what you can do to prepare for an Indian trip, visit your local Passport Health clinic. Book your appointment today by calling or scheduling online now.

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22 things you need to know before visiting India

Dec 15, 2023 • 14 min read

India is a feast for the senses and we've got everything you need to know before you visit © Andrii Lutsyk / Ascent Xmedia / Getty Images

India is a place that overwhelms your senses in the best possible way – nowhere else delivers quite the same barrage of sights, sounds and sensations as this continent-sized country at the heart of Asia.

It would take a lifetime to see all of India , let alone understand every nuance and facet of this nation of 1.4 billion inhabitants. But with a little preparation, you can learn to navigate the richness of this country, from its snow-capped peaks and velvety beaches to its historic temples and luxuriant palaces.

We've collated the top things you need to know about visiting India, but the journey begins before you leave home. Apply for your Indian visa online for a smooth arrival on the subcontinent. Read on for 22 more insider tips that will help make your vacation unforgettable.

1. Plan your trip around the seasons

India has a reputation for being hot and humid, but with beaches, mountains, hills, coastlines and plains all jammed into a relatively small geographical area, the climate is quite diverse. The southwest monsoon brings rainy weather to most of the country from June to September, but this is the best time of year to visit the high-altitude deserts of Ladakh , although depending on the route you take, you risk encountering landslides and floods.

In the far south, there’s also a milder rainy season from October to December. The ideal weather window for travel is from October to May, though temperatures and humidity climb to agonizing levels from March onwards in the run-up to the monsoon. If you find yourself in India in the spring, head to the Himalayan foothills for milder temperatures and good trekking conditions.

2. Get your jabs before you travel

There is no official requirement for vaccinations to enter India (although yellow fever vaccination is needed if you are traveling from a country where the disease is endemic).

That said, it is important that you contact a health professional at least eight weeks before you travel to ensure your jabs are up to date. Vaccinations for diphtheria and tetanus, hepatitis A and B, polio and typhoid are usually recommended, on top of childhood vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella.

Vaccinations worth considering for longer trips include Japanese B encephalitis, meningitis and rabies. Monkeys, dogs and cats can all carry the rabies parasite, and infection is fatal if untreated.

3. Take malaria precautions

Depending on where in India you are traveling to, you may want to speak to your healthcare provider about taking a course of anti-malarial tablets. For instance, northeastern and eastern parts of India, as well as the city of Mangalore, have a higher malaria risk.

Always take precautions to avoid mosquito bites – this will also help you avoid dengue fever, a viral infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes to humans. Sleeping under a mosquito net, wearing long sleeves and trousers in light colors, and using a repellent and/or a plug-in mosquito killer with a high concentration of DEET (diethyltoluamide) is advisable.

4. Get insured

Travel insurance is essential for India. Depending on where you travel to, you may find public hospitals are poorly equipped. Additionally, most private clinics and hospitals require payment ahead of treatment. Make sure you are covered for emergency evacuation and also for any adventure activities you plan to get involved in.

If you’re unlucky enough to be a victim of crime, contact the local police station or dial 100 or 112, the national emergency number. You’ll need to get the police to file a report (a “FIR" – First Information Report) to make a claim on your travel insurance.

5. Book ahead for busy times and festivals

India can get very busy from November to February, so affordable accommodation is usually swamped in peak season. It’s a good idea to book ahead, either directly with the venues or via booking aggregator sites such as Agoda and MakeMyTrip .

Also, book train tickets in advance where possible , particularly for popular routes. Tickets can be booked (with a fair amount of hassle) via the government booking site IRCTC or more easily through local booking sites such as 12Go or Cleartrip .

6. Plan your comms before you travel

Many things in India (including train bookings or ordering food online) get easier if you have a local SIM card. Bring an unlocked phone from home (or pick one up locally) and get a phone shop to sign you up for a local pay-as-you-go SIM package on arrival. You’ll need to bring passport photos and photocopies of your passport ID pages to complete the application.

7. Check your lunar calendars

While India officially follows the Gregorian calendar, the major festivals for Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and several other religions follow lunar calendars and fall on different dates from year to year. Always check festival dates before you book your trip (bearing in mind these dates are subject to change); the Indian government maintains a useful online list of public holidays .

8. Learn local etiquette

English is the  lingua franca in most metropolitan areas in India, and you’ll get away with polite hellos, goodbyes and thank yous in smaller towns too. However, if you’re traveling in northern India, you can say "namaste" (I bow to you) with your hands together in a prayer-like gesture in front of your chest. Similarly, when meeting Muslims in north India, you can say "salaam alaikum" (peace be with you) – the correct response is "alaikum salaam." Most of the time, it’s the effort that’s welcomed over pronunciation, so don’t be shy!

Shaking hands is a standard business greeting between men, but outside metropolitan regions, men and women rarely shake. Only ever use your right hand. The same rule applies when passing things to people – including money.

If you get invited to someone’s home, bring a small gift (flowers or sweets are always a safe bet) and remove your shoes before entering. It’s polite to eat and drink what you are offered, even if you don’t really fancy it.

9. Dress modestly

Depending on where in India you are, modesty is taken seriously – especially for women. Travelers of any gender will have an easier time if they wear loose-fitting clothing that covers their legs and arms. Swimwear is only appropriate for the beach – although it is not uncommon to see locals swim fully clothed. To fit in, consider investing in a kurta pyjama (a traditional garment resembling a long shirt and loose trousers for men) or a salwar kameez (a long shirt, loose trousers and scarf for women).

10. What to eat and how to eat it

Many religions in India have their own dietary rules. Muslims avoid pork, many Hindus avoid beef, and some Hindus and Buddhists are vegetarian or vegan. Many Jains are vegetarians who avoid some vegetables (most notably onions, garlic and potatoes) and who try to avoid causing harm to all living creatures. These rules mean vegan and vegetarian food is often easy to find in India.

Eating with your hands is the norm in many restaurants, particularly in parts of southern India. Take your cue from other patrons in the restaurant, and remember to eat with your right hand. Mix rice and curry into balls with your fingers and push it into your mouth with your thumb. Some thalis (plate meals consisting of multiple dishes served in tandem) are served not on a plate but on a washed and flash-heated banana leaf.

11. Haggling is not a game of life and death

Haggling for a fair price when buying things – in street stalls and open-air markets – is a way of life in India. Although it can sometimes be a frustrating experience, losing your temper is extremely bad form – if you can’t agree on a price with the vendor that you are both happy with, politely decline and shop somewhere else.

The rules of the game are as follows. The vendor will quote you a price that is more than the item is worth, then you’ll come back with a counter-offer, working up from there until you reach a mutually agreeable figure.

The “walking away” trick may bring a few last-minute adjustments, but before long, you’ll reach a threshold that the vendor won’t go below. Throwing in extra items may bring a discount on the overall cost. Many travelers prefer not to haggle in places where the money goes directly to artisans.

12. Respect etiquette at religious sites

Religion is taken very seriously in India, so it pays to know the rules and expectations for visits to temples, mosques, monasteries, gurdwaras (Sikh shrines), synagogues and churches. Always check if you are allowed to enter – some temples and mosques are closed to people who don’t follow the faith. Mosques may also be closed to visitors during prayers or on Fridays.

If asked to do so, remove your shoes before entering any religious building, and be prepared to cover your head with a scarf or shawl. Generally, always cover your legs and arms (a sarong can be handy as an emergency cover-all). Some temples also ban leather goods, and many religious sites do not allow photography.

Avoid pointing the soles of your feet towards a person or deity – this is considered disrespectful. The same goes for touching any person or effigy on the head. It is conventional to walk around Buddhist and Hindu shrines in a clockwise direction, in a ceremonial circuit known as a parikrama .

Making an offering or leaving a donation is often expected – locals always offer something, but be wary of people waving receipts showing huge donations. Giving something is appropriate, but don’t feel pressured into leaving large sums.

13. Giving alms is common but up to you

The giving of alms has a long history in India, and foreigners can expect to be approached regularly with requests for money. Whether you give or not is a personal choice, but many Indians give on a daily basis, particularly when visiting temples and mosques. Be aware that some requests for money will be scams, and you may be able to do more good by giving your time or cash to charity or aid organizations you’ve taken time to research, rather than handing out cash.

14. Respect local social attitudes

India has complex social rules about respect for elders. Depending on where you are traveling to, older people are often greeted with the honorific “auntie” or “uncle,” and the ending ji may also be added to someone’s name as a sign of respect.

Outside bigger cities, India can be quite conservative when it comes to interactions between unmarried men and women. Also, most parts of India are conservative when it comes to same-sex relationships. Whatever your sexuality, it’s best to avoid public displays of affection.

15. Street harassment is unfortunately common

Although harassment can happen anywhere, parts of India are constantly in the news owing to a lack of women’s safety. Beyond long, unwelcome stares and persistent attempts to start a conversation, more serious assaults are also a risk. Groping is common in crowds (particularly during festivals).

Exercise caution like you would anywhere else, and remain alert. Never get into a taxi or auto rickshaw containing anyone other than the driver, and avoid walking alone in quiet areas, particularly at night. Decline offers of food or drinks from strangers.

If traveling by public transport as a woman, it's best to seek out train carriages and designated seating reserved for women. Wearing a wedding ring (even if not married) and using dark sunglasses and headphones can buy you some privacy on public transport. If you are being hassled, drawing loud attention to the intrusion may encourage others to come to your aid.

16. Keep track of security situations in India

India has seen deadly attacks by separatist and Marxist groups and Kashmiri insurgents. Monitor the local news and be alert for suspicious behavior, particularly around major tourist sites. Always check the security situation before traveling to Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley in case of flare-ups of unrest. Strikes, demonstrations and protests are also best avoided, as violence is a risk. It goes without saying but in the event of trouble, obey local curfews and stay inside – your hotel is probably the safest place to be.

17. Take the altitude seriously when hiking

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a risk when traveling above 2500m (8202ft), which covers most of the Indian Himalayas . AMS can be fatal, so always ascend slowly and take rest days to allow your body to acclimate to significant elevation changes. If you begin to feel ill while hiking in the mountains, stop, and if your symptoms don’t improve, descend immediately.

18. Familiarize yourself with local rules and regulations

India has a few laws and regulations that visitors might be unfamiliar with. For instance, taking photographs of bridges, the periphery of military camps and border crossings – or flying drones over them – is considered a serious security issue.

When traveling by plane internally in India, you may be asked to surrender batteries from devices in your cabin bags. Smoking is banned in most public places, and a few states also have bans on the consumption of beef – killing or injuring a cow in a road accident, even accidentally, can lead to violent reprisals.

To avoid sticky situations, take the time to research where you’re going, and talk to staff at your hotel or hostel or your B&B host for advice on things to be aware of.

19. Steer clear of drugs

India may have a reputation amongst travelers as a place to push boundaries, but its drug laws are strict. Possessing even small amounts of drugs for personal use can lead to a prison sentence.

Some religious groups are permitted to consume marijuana for ceremonial purposes, but that often doesn’t extend to tourists. You can, however, find bhaang – a marijuana mixture made with the leaves (rather than the bud) of the cannabis plant – at government-approved bhaang shops.

20. Avoid the tap water

The tap water in India is not potable. Drinking or brushing your teeth with it can be a fast track to stomach troubles – the most common illness tourists experience in India. Stick to purified or bottled water (or even better, purify your own to avoid contributing to India’s plastic waste mountain).

The water rule extends to ice (be wary of ice in drinks and ice cream) and to uncooked foods, particularly salads and dishes such as coriander chutneys, which may have been washed with contaminated water. When eating fruit, stick to things you can peel or wash thoroughly yourself, and be cautious of freshly prepared juices. Hot drinks are generally fine, so drink your fill of chai (milky tea, often spiced and sweet).

21. Watch local news to keep track of natural disasters

Some geographical areas in India are prone to natural disasters, and the risk is higher in certain seasons. Hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh, for instance, often see flash flooding and landslides during the monsoon. Be alert to signs of natural disasters and keep an eye on the local news so you know which areas to avoid. Follow the Indian Meteorological Department’s website as well as their social media handle for timely updates.

If you are caught up in a natural disaster, follow the advice of emergency workers and try to leave the area quickly.

22. Spot the scams

India has a reputation for scams designed to separate tourists from their money, and touts and confidence tricksters can often be found where tourists gather. Get tourist information and make bookings at official offices, rather than “tourist offices” you have been led to by people offering unsolicited help.

If anyone steers you to a hotel, shop or other establishment without you asking, they may be angling for a commission, which will be added to the price you pay. Be dubious of claims that the place you want to go is “closed” – always check yourself to be sure.

Exercise common sense and be wary of deals that sound too good to be true – for example, the gem scam, where travelers are tricked into buying worthless gems to “sell at a profit back home.”

This article was first published March 2022 and updated December 2023

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Information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad. About us.

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India (Asia)

Advice for all destinations.

Read the information on the COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel page for advice on travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccinations and malaria risk

Review both the Vaccination and Malaria sections on this page to find out if you may need vaccines and/or a malaria risk assessment before you travel to this country.

If you think you require vaccines and/or malaria risk assessment, you should make an appointment with a travel health professional:

• How to make an appointment with a travel health professional

A travel health risk assessment is also advisable for some people, even when vaccines or malaria tablets are not required.

• Do I need a travel health risk assessment?

Risk prevention advice 

Many of the health risks experienced by travellers cannot be prevented by vaccines and other measures need to be taken.

Always make sure you understand the wider risks at your destination and take precautions, including:

• food and water safety
• accident prevention
• avoiding insect bites
• preventing and treating animal bites
• respiratory hygiene
• hand hygiene

Our advice section gives detailed information on minimising specific health risks abroad:

• Travel Health Advice A-Z

Other health considerations

Make sure you have travel insurance before travel to cover healthcare abroad.

Find out if there are any restrictions you need to consider if you are travelling with medicines .

Know how to access healthcare at your destination: see the GOV.UK English speaking doctors and medical facilities: worldwide list

If you feel unwell on your return home from travelling abroad, always seek advice from a healthcare professional and let them know your travel history.

Vaccinations

• Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including for example, seasonal flu vaccine (if indicated), MMR , vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
• Courses or boosters usually advised: Diphtheria; Hepatitis A; Tetanus; Typhoid.
• Other vaccines to consider: Hepatitis B; Rabies.
• Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Cholera; Japanese Encephalitis.

Please Note: If you travel to India from the UK, transiting through Europe or the Middle East  (and you have not been in a South American or African country in the previous week) a yellow fever vaccination certificate is not required.

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

Risk is higher during floods and after natural disasters, in areas with very poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water.

• Diphtheria :  spread person to person through respiratory droplets. Risk is higher if mixing with locals in poor, overcrowded living conditions.

Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation is poor.

Risk is higher for long stays, frequent travel and for children (exposed through cuts and scratches), those who may require medical treatment during travel.

• Japanese Encephalitis :  spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. This mosquito breeds in rice paddies and mainly bites between dusk and dawn. Risk is highest for long stay travellers to rural areas, particularly if unable to avoid mosquito bites.
• Tetanus :  spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.
• Typhoid :  spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited.

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

Malaria precautions

• Malaria risk is present throughout the year. Risk is highest in north-eastern states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, district of Amini in Arunachal Pradesh, north and south Chhattisgarh, Odisha (Orissa) and the city of Mangalore. In central Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh risk is not high enough to warrant antimalarial tablets for most travellers, however, it may be considered for certain groups who may be at higher risk (see below under Low risk with additional advice).
• There is low to no risk in all other areas.
• Check with your doctor or nurse about suitable antimalarial tablets.
• See malaria map – additional information can be found by clicking on the Regional Information icon below the map.
• High risk areas: atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine  are usually advised.
• Low risk with additional advice: antimalarial tablets are not usually recommended, however, they can be considered for certain travellers who may be at higher risk e.g. longer stay in rural areas, visiting friends or relatives, those with medical conditions, immunosuppression or those without a spleen. Atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine  is advised for those at risk.
• Low to no risk: antimalarial tablets are not usually advised
• If you have been travelling in a malarious area and develop a fever seek medical attention promptly. Remember malaria can develop even up to one year after exposure.
• If travelling to an area remote from medical facilities, carrying standby emergency treatment for malaria may be considered.

Other Health Risks

Altitude and travel, dengue fever.

There is a risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) in this country.

Please be aware that the risk of COVID-19 in this country may change at short notice and also consider your risk of exposure in any transit countries and from travelling itself. 

• The 'News' section on this page will advise if significant case increases or outbreaks have occurred in this country.

Prior to travel, you should:

• Check the latest government guidance on the FCDO Foreign travel advice and country specific pages for travel to this country and the rules for entering the UK on return.
• Ensure you are up to date with UK recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination.
• You can check this in the FAQ's.
• If you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 you should carefully  consider your travel plans  and consider seeking medical advice prior to making any decisions.

For further information, see  Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)  and  COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel  pages.

Polio Vaccine Requirement for India

There is no risk of polio in this country. However, proof of polio vaccination may be necessary if you are travelling to India from a country where polio is still found. Please discuss this with a travel health professional. 

Zika Virus Infection

This country has been categorised as having a risk of Zika (ZIKV) virus transmission.

ZIKV is mainly spread through mosquito bites. The mosquito responsible most commonly bites during daylight hours and is common in towns and cities. 

The illness is usually mild but infection during pregnancy may lead to babies being born with birth defects. There is no vaccine currently available against ZIKV.

Advice for All Travellers

You should practice strict mosquito bite avoidance at all times. Do not travel without adequate travel insurance . Seek pre-travel health advice from a travel health professional 6 to 8 weeks in advance of travel.

Additional recommendations for pregnant travellers or those planning pregnancy

If you are planning pregnancy in the very near future you should consider whether you should avoid travel to this country.

• contact your GP, obstetrician or midwife for further advice, even if you have not been unwell or had any symptoms of ZIKV infection
• use barrier methods of contraception during and after travel and for the duration of your pregnancy, even in you have not been unwell or had any symptoms of ZIKV infection
• If you develop symptoms of ZIKV infection, it is recommended that you avoid becoming pregnant for a further 2 months following your recovery
• 2 months afterwards if you are female
• 3 months afterwards if you are male or if both partners travelled

These measures reduce the chance of sexual transmission of ZIKV and/or the risk of ZIKV infection in pregnancy.

For further information, see Zika virus infection page.

• 146 additional items in the news archive for this country

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India Travel Requirements & Vaccinations

India, located in southern Asia, is the seventh largest country in the world and the second largest in terms of population. Its 4,700 miles of coastline bank the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Just under half of its coastline miles are sandy beaches, with the rest being comprised of rocky shores, cliffs and mudflats. Approximately 1/5 of the country’s interior is covered by forests.

Although India has no official, national language, Hindi is the most commonly spoken language with English also used extensively, especially in urban areas. Tourists to India enjoy a wide variety of attractions and geographical diversity, including:

• Sun-washed beaches
• Lush national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
• Ancient military and sacred structures
• Guided jungle walks and lake cruises

REQUIRED VACCINATIONS FOR INDIA TRAVEL: YELLOW FEVER VACCINE

Vaccination against yellow fever  may be required if entering India from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine will provide you with an official certificate of vaccination for this purpose.

Additional Vaccines That May Be Recommended When Travelling to India

• Hepatitis A
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Malaria (pill form)

*Rabies vaccination is typically only recommended for very high risk travelers given that it is completely preventable if medical attention is received within 7 – 10 days of an animal bite.

Travelers may also be advised to ensure they have received the routine vaccinations listed below. Some adults may need to receive a booster for some of these diseases:

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)

Older adults or those with certain medical conditions may also want to ask about being vaccinated for shingles and/or pneumonia.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a travel medicine professional. Not all of the vaccines listed here will be necessary for every individual.

Talk to the experts at UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health to determine how each member of your family can obtain maximum protection against illness, disease and injury while traveling, based on age, health, medical history and travel itinerary.

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Warnings and insurance

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

India-Pakistan border area

FCDO advises against all travel within the vicinity of the India-Pakistan border, except for at Wagah where travellers can cross the border.

Jammu and Kashmir

FCDO advises against all travel to the region of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar, and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for:

• travel by air to and from the city of Jammu
• travel within the city of Jammu
• travel within the region of Ladakh

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur.

In April-May 2023 violent ethnic clashes broke out across Manipur, including in the state capital Imphal. Curfews and other restrictions have been imposed in many parts of the state. There may be transport disruptions. Internet services may be limited and restrictions might be imposed at short notice.

You should:

• avoid protests or large gatherings
• follow the advice of the local authorities and your travel company
• monitor local media and follow any curfew restrictions

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel to these regions .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

• advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks
• information for women, LGBT+ and disabled travellers

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and potential expenses in an emergency.

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India’s Latest Guidelines on International Travel

This timeline summarizes the most recent developments in the rules and regulations governing international travel to and from India.

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February 2023

• From February 13, 11 AM , passengers coming to India from or via China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand will not require a negative RT-PCR report from a pre-departure test for COVID-19. Travelers from these five countries will no longer have to fill the self-health declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal either. The 2% random testing on arrival in India [from any country of origin] policy that was started December 24 last year, shall continue.

January 2023

• Reported by Times of India , all Indians traveling to Sri Lanka will have to follow the country’s revised COVID-19 protocols. Sri Lanka has announced that all tourists to the country will be required to carry their vaccination cards, and unvaccinated travelers must carry a negative PCR report obtained 72 hours prior to their arrival.

December 2022

December 29, 2022.

• On December 29, 2022, India’s Federal Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that RT-PCR test would be mandatory from January 1, 2023 for international passengers travelling to India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand . The test must be conducted within 72 hours of undertaking the journey to India. 
• These negative RT-PCR reports must be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal before travel.
• This requirement is in addition to the random two percent tests of all international passengers in all incoming international flights on their arrival in India irrespective of their port of departure.

December 28, 2022

Air India Express, India’s first international budget carrier that offers flights to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, has issued guidelines for the maintenance of Covid-appropriate behaviour by travellers travelling from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India. The guidelines include:

• All passengers from UAE should preferably be completely immunised as per the approved primary schedule of Covid vaccination. 
• All visitors should preferably use masks and follow physical distancing on flights/travel and at all points of entry.
• Post-arrival random testing is not required for children under the age of 12. However, if they have Covid-related symptoms upon arrival, they have to undergo testing in accordance with protocol. 

December 26, 2022

• On December 24, 2022, Indian Health Ministry announced that international arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand will have to mandatorily present RT-PCR test results . In case any passengers from these countries are symptomatic or test positive for Covid-19, they will be quarantined. 
• Economic Times reporting that Air Suvidha form filling to declare current health status will also be made compulsory for international passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand.
• Times of India reporting that Qatar has reinstated visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility for Indian travellers , which were temporarily halted due to FIFA World Cup 2022 in the country. Indian nationals can get a free VOA in Qatar for a maximum stay of 30 days or as per the hotel reservation and under the following conditions: valid passport for at least six months, confirmed return tickets, and confirmed hotel reservation through ‘Discover Qatar’ website only.
• Times of India  reporting that effective from January 1, 2023 , Serbia has discontinued visa-free travel regulations for Indian citizens , keeping in line with the requirements of European Union (EU) visa policy and measures to control illegal migrants. 

December 23, 2022

New guidelines applicable for international arrivals from December 24, 2022: “All travelers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their Country.” See here for the official Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notification issued December 22.

India will randomly test 2 percent of international travelers arriving in the country’s airports for COVID, with effect from Saturday (December 24) 10 am IST , as announced by Mansukh Mandaviya, Health Minister on Thursday December 21. Travelers will be allowed to leave the airport after submitting their sample. After the random testing, if found COVID-positive, the person’s sample shall be sent for genomic testing at a designated INSACOG laboratory network; reports shall be hared with Integrated Disease Surveillance Program at [email protected] by the concerned testing laboratory (besides sharing with the airport health organization APHOS) to be in turn shared with concerned state or union territory for further follow-up action.

• India is becoming increasingly cautious after a surge in cases recorded in neighboring China as well as in Brazil, US, Japan, and Korea, besides it being the ongoing holiday and festive season, which witnesses a jump in travel. In another move, visitors to the Taj Mahal (Agra, Uttar Pradesh state), will undergo a COVID-19 test before they enter, as per reporting from news agency ANI. While wearing masks are not currently mandatory in most parts of the country, it will likely be increasingly encouraged. For example, the southern state of Karnataka has made wearing masks mandatory indoors and in closed spaces in guidelines released December 22.

December 14, 2022

• DNA  reporting a travel advisory issued due to the ongoing chaos at Delhi international airport: “To ensure a quick security check, Air India has urged all travelers to bring just one piece of carry-on luggage and arrive at least 3.5 hours early.”
• Times of India  reporting that Hong Kong and Nigeria are among the latest to remove COVID-19 travel rules for international travelers. 
• Business Today  reporting that IndiGo has announced 32 connecting flights between India and Europe – flying to Milan, Manchester, Birmingham, Rome, and Venice – starting December 7, 2022. These international flights will operate in partnership with Turkish Airlines.

November 2022

• Times of India  reporting that Germany is relaxing visa appointment rules for Indian tourists. According to German Missions in the country, Indian travelers can book their visa appointment at any VFS global Visa Application Centre in major Indian cities and the Schengen visa can be applied for three months before the travel date. However, this relaxation does not apply to the D-visa category – students, employment, and family reunion visas, among others.
• New Air India flights announced between India and US, Europe ( Business Traveller ): – Air India is launching new flights connecting Mumbai with New York, Paris, and Frankfurt, and resuming non-stop flights connecting Delhi with Copenhagen, Milan, and Vienna. The new daily Mumbai-New York service to John F Kennedy International Airport will commence February 14, 2023, which will take Air India’s India-US frequency to 47 non-stop flights per week. – The new Air India flights from Delhi to Europe announced are: four weekly Delhi-Milan from February 1, 2023 and three weekly flights each on the Delhi-Vienna and Delhi-Copenhagen routes starting February 18 and March 1, 2023, respectively. – From Mumbai, new Air India flights are currently being planned to Paris* (thrice-weekly) and Frankfurt* (four weekly) from the next quarter. 
• India is discontinuing the Air Suvidha self-declaration form starting November 22, 2022. Passengers flying into India will no longer need to fill out the Air Suvidha form from November 21-22 midnight and will not need to take an RT-PCR COVID-19 test.

On November 14, the Canada  government concluded an expanded Canada-India Air Transport Agreement “to allow unlimited flights between both countries”. The announcement said: “The expanded agreement allows designated airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries. The previous agreement limited each country to 35 flights per week. The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately. Money Control reports that this will give Canadian airlines access to the Indian cities of Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai while Indian airlines will receive access to Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, and Vancouver as well as two additional points (Canadian cities) selected by India. India is Canada’s fourth largest international air transport market and there are an estimated 1.5 million Indians living in Canada. Presently the only non-stop direct flights in this market are from Air India and Air Canada.

October 2022

The Financial Express  reports plans of Air India to add 20 weekly, non-stop flights to the US and UK between October and December. “With five additional flights a week to Birmingham, nine additional flights to London, and six additional flights a week to San Francisco, Air India said it will be able to offer over 5,000 additional seats every week.” Soon there will be seven Indian cities offering direct Air India flights to London.

September 2022

• No new updates were made to the “Risk Levels” and “Safety and Security” sections of the Canadian government’s travel advisory for India: The Hindu report .
• Hong Kong is lifting compulsory quarantine requirement for arrivals starting from September 26. There will be three days of medical surveillance during which inbound persons are free to go out but are obliged to comply with Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass, followed by a four-day self-monitoring period, making it a 7-day observation period in total, as per the Hong Kong government’s notification .
• Taiwan will end mandatory quarantine for travelers arriving in the country from October 13 as per reporting from Reuters . Speaking to the media, Taiwan’s Cabinet spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng stated that from September 29, visa-free entry will be resumed for overseas travelers that previously enjoyed that status. Under its ‘New Taiwan Model’, the government is set to increase weekly arrival limits for international travelers to 60,000 from 10,000 and will not require PCR tests for arrivals. If the pandemic situation is stable, the country will end quarantine from around October 13 and increase the weekly arrival limit to 150,000.
• Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced travel relaxations in Japan while in New York for the UN General Assemebly session. “… from 11 October, Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US, as well as resume visa-free travel and individual travel.”  BBC  reports that the cap on daily arrivals will also be lifted.
• Fiji removed its COVID-19 test requirements for international travelers from September 5, 2022.
• Media is reporting that Indians traveling to Indonesia can fast track their visa applications on arriving in Jakarta as VFS Global has reached an exclusive agreement with the Indonesian Immigrant Department.
• See India’s guidelines for international arrivals – dated September 2, 2022 – which came in effect the next day. The document provides protocols to be complied by international travelers as well as those to be followed by airlines and all points of entry (airports, seaports, and land border). 
• International flights resumed operations starting September 3, in Guwahati’s (Assam state) Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA), after a gap of two years. In the next few months, officials speaking to the  Hindustan Times said that the LGBIA airport will start flights from Guwahati to Yangon (Myanmar), Kathmandu (Nepal), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Bangkok (Thailand).

January – August, 2022

• Airlines and travel agents in India have to share details of international travelers with the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBIC) 24 hours before departure and arrival. The information will be provided to the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC). While this rule had been proposed five years ago, to combat tax avoidance and tax evasion, the government has only now developed a regulatory framework to implement this. India is among 60 countries collecting such details of international passengers. The Ministry of Finance issued the notification on August 8, 2022, as per media reports .
• China no longer requires COVID test information for international arrivals from August 31, 2022 : On Thursday, August 25, 2022, China’s General Administration of Customs released  a new health declaration form for international arrivals, which removes the requirement for visitors to report their nucleic acid test results, infection status, and vaccination dates. This ninth version of the health declaration form will be implemented starting from August 31, 2022, and international visitors can report their health status online by filling out a form on the related WeChat account or webpage. Some  media  interpret that with this update, the current entry requirement, that is, the requirement to have international passengers take two PCR tests for COVID-19 within 48 hours of their departure, the second of which must be within 24 hours of their departure — will be lifted.  However, considering that China is still sticking to its dynamic zero-COVID strategy, we recommend that international travelers double-check with their flight companies for further information.
• The Chinese Embassy in India has updated its “ Application Procedures and Material Requirements of China Visa “, to be implemented from August 24, 2022. See here for the list of requirements and procedures for various types of Chinese visas, including the M-Visa (commercial and trade activities) and the X1-Visa (long-term study): http://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/qz/202208/t20220822_10748221.htm 
• The  Business Standard  noted in a report that China was working to facilitate the return of foreign students, including from India, who have been stuck due to the COVID-19 visa restriction. The paper quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin who told media that the Chinese side were working intensively for the return of foreign students to China. In updated comments on the foreign ministry website, Wenbin said: “We are confident in seeing the return of the first group of Indian students in the near future. Building on that, the Chinese side will further proceed with the return of other Indian students in a well thought-out and orderly manner.”
• India’s domestic air fare caps will end from August 31, as the civil aviation regulator DGCA rolls back restrictions imposed in 2020. This minimum to maximum price band had been introduced to avoid sky high ticket prices due to pent up demand in the domestic travel market. 
• India’s passport offers visa-free access to 60 countries , including Bhutan, Nepal, Macao, Oman, Qatar, and Fiji. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, published by immigration consultancy Henley & Partners, India’s passport ranked 87th. India had ranked 90th in Q3 and Q4 in 2021. The latest index is topped by Japan, whose passport offers visa-free access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea and Singapore (at 192 countries each), and Germany and Spain (190). As per reporting by the Hindustan Times: Indians have ‘visa-on-arrival’ access in Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka as well as 21 countries in Africa.
• Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, promised to relax restrictions on international travel in an “orderly” way , which would include facilitating the return of foreign students to rejoin Chinese colleges. Around 500,000 foreign students are enrolled at universities in China, including 23,000 Indians. Li said: “All international students may return to China to continue their studies should they so wish, and outbound commerce and trade activities and cross-border travel for labor services will be advanced in an orderly fashion.” The comments were made during a Special Virtual Dialogue with Global Business Leaders hosted by the forum. Foreign diplomatic missions in China are presently trying to speed up the process to facilitate the return of international students to China. While this is now in a small-scale trial mode, any large-scale opening can be expected only when the country’s epidemic outbreaks slow down.
• Competent authorities in China and India are communicating on securing the resumption of flights and to bring back the first group of Indian students to China at the earliest as reported in  The Economic Times.
• Bhutan is allowing travelers into the country from September 23, 2022 – after a two-year gap. Tourists from India should note the levy of a sustainable development fee (SDF), charged at 1,200 ngultrums (approx. INR 1200) per day; children between the age of six and 12 are charged INR 600 per day and no fee is charged from children below the age of five. The SDF fee is not applicable everywhere – there are exemptions to the levy in 11 districts in the less popular Eastern Bhutan region, until December 2024. 
• India is working to roll out e-passports as per its external affairs minister S. Jaishankar. The minister also informed that the Passport Seva System had been integrated with the DigiLocker system to facilitate paperless documentation. Jaishankar added: “The Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Posts operationalized 428 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) to reach out to our citizens at their doorsteps. The Ministry has successfully integrated the passport issuance systems in 178 of our Embassies and Consulates abroad.” 
• Saudi Arabia has lifted COVID-related travel restrictions on citizens travelling to India, Ethiopia, Turkey, and Vietnam and is accepting pilgrims for the forthcoming annual Hajj season, The Hindu  reports June 20, 2022. The requirement to wear face masks in closed places has also been relaxed.
• China has updated its visa policy for Indians , including Indian professionals and students. China will accept visa applications of foreign nationals and their accompanying family members seeking to return to China for resumption of work in all fields. Visas for tourism and private purposes remain suspended. The details of over 12,000 Indian students have reportedly been forwarded to the Chinese government for visa processing. (Over 23,000 Indian students – mostly enrolled in medical colleges in China – had to return to India and were stuck during the last few years due to the coronavirus pandemic, which first broke out December 2019.) However, China is yet to announce resumption of normal flight facilities between the two countries.
• The US does not require arriving international travelers to take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights to the country from June 12, Sunday. “As of 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. For more information, see Rescission: Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for all Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving into the United States from Any Foreign Country .”
• Media reports say the DGCA has made masks mandatory at Indian airports and during flights. India recorded 7,240 new cases in 24 hours [ June 9 MoHFW update], the highest since March.
• On Wednesday, June 8, India’s aviation regulator DGCA announced fresh guidelines for COVID-appropriate behavior. The wearing of masks is now mandatory inside the flight / throughout the air travel , and mask removal is permitted only under exceptional circumstances. Violators could be treated as ‘unruly passengers’ and removed from the flight before departure. This is in line with a Delhi High Court order, which stipulates that violators can be put on ‘no fly list’. 
• India’s  overall passenger traffic  (both domestic and international) at airports reached 93 percent of pre-COVID levels in May 2022. International passenger traffic reached 63 percent and 72 percent of pre-COVID levels in April and May, respectively. Recovery of domestic travel reached 98 percent of pre-COVID levels in May 2022.
• Turkey has relaxed all the conditions for Indian travelers entering the country, Turkiye Tourism Board said on Monday, June 6.​​ Now, Indian travelers no longer have to show proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-29 or negative RT-PCR test report.
• The United States Embassy in India has tweeted (8.23pm, May 29): “The US Mission to India is pleased to announce that we are resuming routine in-person tourist visa appointments in September 2022. Previously scheduled placeholders have now been cancelled. Applicants whose placeholder appointments were cancelled may now reenter the scheduling system to book regular appointments. Appointments have been opened through 2023.”
• Media reports say that Israel has removed COVID-19-linked travel requirements for foreign visitors, such as presenting a negative RT-PCR test prior to departure, undergoing an RT-PCR test upon arrival, and quarantine observation.
• Livemint reports: “Malaysia Airlines will add new routes, increase frequencies and upgrade aircraft to cater to the Indian market, which remains a key geography for the airline.”
• Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from travelling to sixteen countries, including India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, after the Gulf state has recorded a five-fold rise in COVID-19 cases. News18 reports : “Saudi Arabia’s General Department of Passports dropped several Covid-19 restrictions towards the end of last year but are now reimposing some of them as Covid-19 cases are being reported from various parts of the world and China and North Korea bearing the brunt of the Omicron variant which is leading to fresh cases.”
• Indian announced on May 12 that citizens planning to travel abroad are now eligible to get a third (booster/precaution) dose of vaccine three months after their second dose. The rules otherwise stipulate a nine-month gap between the second dose and booster shot. 
• Scoot, the budget airline from Singapore Airlines Group, has launched daily flight services between Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) and Singapore, up from three times a week. As per reporting by The Hindu  [April 27, 2022], Scoot has a network of 42 destinations in 16 countries and territories, including Australia and Southeast Asia.
• VietJet has announced that it will resume operations of six flights – on the Delhi-Hanoi route and Delhi-Ho Chi Minh City route from April 29, 2022. New flights have also been added by VietJet on the Mumbai-Phu Quoc route and New Delhi-Phu Quoc route, which are scheduled to start from September 9, 2022.
• Hong Kong has banned Air India flights till April 24 due to COVID-19 as three passengers on board one of its flights had reportedly tested positive on arrival.
• On April 11,  Times of India  reported that fully vaccinated passengers from the UAE traveling to India will not necessarily require a pre-departure RT-PCR test at the airport. The move is on a reciprocity basis. However, UAE travelers will need to fill out the passenger locator form on the Air Suvidha portal – same as travelers from any other destination visiting India. Also, travelers need to upload their COVID-19 vaccination certificate onto the Air Suvidha portal.
• Scheduled international flight services have resumed from Sunday, March 27, 2022 after being suspended for two years due to COVID-19. Starting March 27, six Indian airlines and 60 foreign airlines will connect India with 63 countries . Under the new summer schedule (March 27 to October 29), foreign airlines will operate 1,783 weekly flights and Indian carriers will operate 1,466 departures every week. Among domestic airlines, IndiGo will operate 505 departures per week, followed by Tata Group-owned Air India at 361 weekly flights and its subsidiary Air India Express will operate 340 flights per week.
• From the  Indian Express : More international airlines add flights to India : “Emirates said… it will be operating the 35 weekly flights from Mumbai, 28 from Delhi, 24 from Bengaluru, 21 each from Chennai and Hyderabad, 14 from Kochi, 11 from Kolkata, nine from Ahmedabad and seven from Thiruvananthapuram.”
• On March 21, 2022, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced  that from April 1, the Government will lift the flight ban on nine countries (i.e., Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK, the USA, and Nepal)  and cut the hotel quarantine period for arrivals. Currently, passenger aircraft from these nine countries are not allowed to land in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive also announced the preconditions for boarding a flight to Hong Kong and the COVID-19 control and prevention measures to be implemented upon arrival. Given this, there are  comments  saying that traveling to Hong Kong will not get much easier even after the ban is lifted. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. plans just one inbound flight every two weeks for fear to be subjected to the city’s 14-day ban on airlines that carry too many passengers found to be infected with COVID-19.
• Singapore announced it is lifting restrictions for all vaccinated travelers from next week. According to officials, from April 1, fully vaccinated adults and unvaccinated children will be allowed to enter Singapore without quarantining, if they take a pre-departure test . Only travelers on a ‘restricted list’ will face curbs in entering Singapore; as of March 24, 2022 – there are no countries on this list.
• On March 21, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced relaxed COVID-19-related regulations. NDTV reports MoCA saying “cabin crew members need not wear PPE kit, airlines need not keep three seats vacant on international flights for medical emergencies and security personnel at airports can resume pat-down search of passengers.” However, the use of face mask and maintenance of hand hygiene/sanitizer continues to be mandatory . Airlines may carry additional PPE protective gear, sanitizers, and N-95 masks to handle any respiratory infections related to cases on air – for passengers as well as the crew.
• Cochin International Airport announces summer schedule (March 27 to October 29) with 1,190 weekly operations (international and domestic flights). 20 airlines will operate flights to destinations abroad (including 16 international carriers). Indigo has the most weekly departures to international destinations (42) and Air India Express accounts for 38 weekly departure operations. Other prominent carriers are Air Asia Berhad, Ethihad, Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Thai Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, Gulf Air, and Fly Dubai. 44 weekly departures are scheduled for Dubai, followed by Abu Dhabi with 42. Air India Express will continue its weekly operations to London and Thai Air Asia will resume Kochi operations in June, with 4 weekly direct flights to Bangkok. Source:  The Hindu Business Line
• Useful Quick Links from the Air India portal: – Official Circular on Restoration of Indian Visa (E-Tourist Visa and Tourist Visa) for Foreign Tourists   – Circular For Generating and Accessing International Digital Covid 19 Vaccination Certificate – International Travel Advisories
• Singapore Airlines Group press release: All Singapore Airlines flights from India to Singapore will operate as vaccinated travel lane (VTL) services from March 16, 2022. This will provide eligible customers with quarantine-free entry into Singapore from eight points across India. Scoot, SIA’s low-cost subsidiary, will also progressively convert its non-VTL services from Amritsar, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchi, and Visakhapatnam to VTL services. Short-term visitors and Singapore work-permit holders who seek to avail VTL services must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) prior to their visa application. VTP applications should be made between three and 60 calendar days before the person’s intended date of entry into Singapore. Travelers must ensure their eligibility to use the VTL services before their flight. 
• Regular international flights to resume March 27, 2022 after two years suspension. This is the start of the summer schedule 2022.
• Economic Times reporting “ Global travel shedding Covid baggage as several nations ease restrictions for Indians “. 
• India has once again extended its ban on regular commercial international passenger flights – until further orders – as per a circular dated February 28, 2022 issued by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Flights under air bubble arrangements and international cargo flights will continue.
• On February 28, 2022 , the Indian government updated its “ List of Countries/Regions in respect of which primary vaccination schedule completion certificate is allowed to be uploaded ” on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website: see document here . There are 88 countries now on this list . (The Union health ministry has removed the at-risk categorization of countries.) 
• India and Thailand have finalized an air bubble arrangement, bringing the total number of such bilateral flight agreements to 37. Airline carriers between India and Thailand will begin operating flights starting in March, which will be subject to approval from the government. Thai Airways will commence flights between India and Thailand starting March 1 under this air bubble. Travelers should note the health protocols and the respective schedules of approved flights between Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Bangkok. Meanwhile, on February 25, SpiceJet announced it will launch six new international flights to Bangkok, commencing from March 10 in a phased manner. SpiceJet plans to launch flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata with Bangkok. India reportedly has plans to reopen its regular international travel from March 15, but this is still a tentative date.
• Singapore, UAE, and Kuwait have updated their travel guidelines and COVID-prevention protocols for travelers from India. See here to know more.
• The Airport Authority of India has updated its state-wise guidelines for arriving passengers – by region. The PDF links may be accessed here: COVID Guidelines India Northern Region 14-02-2022 COVID Guidelines India Western Region 21.02.2022 COVID Guidelines India Southern Region 22-02-20212 COVID Guidelines India Eastern Region 18-02-2022 COVID Guidelines India North East Region 17-02-2022
• Dubai ends rapid RT-PCR rules for Indian travelers. Under the new rules , travelers from India have to produce a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued by an approved health service provider and generated 48 hours before scheduled departure of the flight. Passengers will undergo a PCR test upon arrival in Dubai. Transit passengers will be expected to follow rules governing entry at their final destination.
• It is being reported in The Economic Times that the aviation ministry has requested approval from the health ministry to allow resumption of international flights from mid-March. Reason cited by unnamed government source is that domestic traffic has rebounded.
• The government has removed restrictions on the number of flights that can be operated between India and Ukraine under their bilateral air bubble arrangement to facilitate travel of Indians from the eastern European country. India has advised its citizens to temporarily leave Ukraine amid its deteriorating relations with Russia.
• Indian media are reporting that the government is soon to make a decision on whether regular international flights can resume in the summer (March/April). It is being reported by The Economic Times that the aviation ministry has set an internal target of resuming international flight services once domestic airlines capacity touches 80% of pre-COVID flights. (Domestic airlines operated over 2,800 flights before the pandemic struck in 2020; as of February 13, they operated 2,058 flights. To reach the 80% mark, this number has to exceed 2,200.)
• No testing or mandatory quarantine required for international travelers from February 14, 2022: On February 10, India revised guidelines for international arrivals, which will come into effect February 14, 2022 (Monday, 00.01 Hrs IST). The new guidelines remove the category of ‘at risk’ countries and has scrapped the seven-day mandatory quarantine. Instead, India’s health authorities recommend self-monitoring of 14 days for symptoms . The Union Health Ministry stated that there is “need to monitor the continuously changing” COVID-19 virus but accepted that “economic activities need to be taken up in an unhindered manner”. As per the latest guidelines, all foreign arrivals have to fill a self-declaration form online (Air Suvidha web portal), including a travel history of the past 14 days. They must also upload a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours of the departure date. Alternatively, they can upload a certificate confirming that they are fully vaccinated. This alternative option is only available for passengers arriving from the 72 countries whose vaccination program are recognized by the Indian government. They include Canada, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Bahrain, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, and some European countries. See here for the official notification on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare portal.
• Australia will reopen its borders for international tourists from February 21 , subject to conditions. The move comes after almost two years of pandemic-linked travel restrictions. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while making the announcement: “The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it.” However, travelers to Australia should note the state-wise rules and restrictions.
• Vietnam reported to reopen for tourism, welcome foreign travelers from March 15, 2022. See here for information pertaining to travel to Vietnam .
• On February 5, Bali reopened its borders for international travelers and resumed direct international flights. See here for information on travel to Indonesia .
• On February 4, the state of Kerala released revised guidelines for international travelers. ( See here for the official notification by the Kerala government.) Any international traveler coming to Kerala, irrespective of their duration of stay, must undergo symptom surveillance. If they are found symptomatic, they must undertake an RT-PCR test at cost at the airport and take further action as per the test results. The revised rules advise home quarantine for international travelers who do not show symptoms; they must self-monitor their health for 7 days from the date of arrival and undergo testing if they develop symptoms. Rapid Antigen Test is advised on the 8th day after arrival. There will be random testing of 2% of international travelers on the flight, irrespective of the country of departure, and the costs will be borne by the Kerala state government. 
• Singapore Airlines has restarted the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) with India. VTL flights allow quarantine-free travel into Singapore. There are VTL flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai into Singapore. (Singapore has also restarted its vaccinated travel lane with Malaysia.) Passengers should note that there are limited flights and reduced seat quota on these routes.
• The West Bengal state government announced on January 31, that it is rolling back its ban on all international direct flights coming from the United Kingdom to Kolkata.
• Indians who are fully vaccinated can reportedly travel to these seven countries: UK, Thailand, Singapore, Cyprus, Vietnam, Israel, and Saint Lucia in the Caribbean.
• Canada has relaxed COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers from India, starting January 28, 2022. People traveling on direct flights or on a one-stop flight from India do not have to show a negative RT-PCR test done at the Delhi airport within 18 hours of their departure. However, Canada still requires travelers from India to show an RT-PCR test report from an ICMR-approved lab . Fully vaccinated travelers must upload their relevant details onto the ArriveCAN app or website. 
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs – Guidelines for International Arrivals – Quick Access to Documents: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf 
• India has extended the ban on scheduled international commercial flights to 23:59 February 28, 2022: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This ban does not apply to international all-cargo operations and the DGCA-approved flights. The notification was released by the DGCA on January 19, 2022.
• Hong Kong bars flights from India, U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Pakistan, and Philippines over Omicron fears, reports The Hindu (Jan.5, 2022).
• Countries reported to be requiring mandatory vaccine booster shots for travelers include Kuwait, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Croatia, Austria, Greece, and Israel. 
• Gulf News is reporting that India is currently making a “day to day” assessment on the resumption of normal international flights. “One has to balance the concerns of public safety and travel,” said Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Tourism, Government of India. “We will take very expeditious action as and when things improve and the assessment is carried out. I’m hopeful that [full] international travel will resume soon.”
• Starting January 1, 2022, India’s air bubble arrangement with Saudi Arabia will be in effect. 
• India has reached an air bubble agreement with Australia. According to reporting from Livemint : “Australian airline Qantas has recently started flights between Sydney and New Delhi. The airline is also set to start flights between New Delhi and Melbourne before Christmas. Air India also operated direct commercial flights connecting New Delhi with Melbourne and Sydney before scheduled international flights were suspended by the Indian government. Air India flights between India and Australia will resume in coming days, said a senior official with the airline.”
• As of December 7, 2021 , India’s Civil Aviation and Health Ministry has made contactless self-declaration at Air Suvidha Portal mandatory for purpose of contact tracing. Exemption forms from the Air Suvidha portal has been discontinued. All international passengers arriving in India must fill in all the details.
• 108 countries recognize India’s COVID-19 vaccination certificate for travel purpose as per data available on December 6, 2021 .

Commercial international flights were suspended in India since March 25, 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Travel restrictions have begun to be gradually relaxed from October 2021.

Below we highlight the latest guidelines for international travel to and from India.

Latest updates

Status of india’s international air operations.

• On March 8, an order from the government confirmed resumption of regular international flights from March 27, 2022 . “After being recognized the increase of vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India from March 27, 2022, ie [that is] start of the summer schedule 2022,” said the order. India had suspended international flights for the first time in March 2020 and began operating air bubble arrangements since July 2020. 
• As of February 28, 2022, India has extended its suspension of scheduled international flights “till further orders”. 
• India rolled back its intention to resume normal international flight schedules from December due to the emergence of the Omicron COVID variant. On December 9, 2021, the civil aviation regulator announced announced the postponement of international scheduled commercial flights till February 28, 2022. Air bubble and evacuation flights schedules, approved flights, and air cargo will function.

India releases periodic guidelines for international passengers coming into India based on the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and emergence of regional variants and their threat assessment. The latest travel guidelines for international arrivals to India were released on February 10, 2022 (and supersede previous notifications): https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf

• The Air Suvidha portal for submission of Self Declaration Form, which is mandatory: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration 

For evacuation flight schedule Phase 14 (October 1, 2021 to March 26, 2022), see Air India Vande Bharat Mission here (download PDF): https://www.airindia.in/images/pdf/VBM-schedule-dtd-30sep2021-PHASE14.pdf . The evacuation mission has been in place since May 7, 2020. For destinations operated under air bubble arrangement Phase 13 ( September 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021), click here for PDF download .

• As of April 15, 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has restored electronic visa (e-visa) facility for foreigners from 156 countries. The e-visa facility is applicable for international tourists who wish to visit India for conferences, medical purposes, or business. The e-visa also extends to medical attendants.

Air Transport Bubbles

India has also established “Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements”, which are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.

The details of such arrangements were last updated in February 2022.

India now has 37 air bubble arrangements in place: Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UAE, UK, USA, and Uzbekistan.

More details can be seen on the government website here: https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en/about-air-transport-bubbles 

• Full service carrier Vistara has started non-stop flight services to Paris from Delhi under the air bubble agreement between India and Europe, according to reporting from The Economic Times . Under the air bubble pact, Vistara’s Boeing 787-9 (Dreamliner) aircraft will fly twice a week between Delhi and Paris – on Wednesday and Sunday. London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Doha, Sharjah, and Male are the other international destinations covered by Vistara, which is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.
• The US will be lifting travel restrictions on foreign countries from November 8, Monday. Travelers must show proof of vaccination (WHO-approved vaccines); unvaccinated minors will be subject to testing requirements; and all travelers will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before departure to the US. See here for Reuters coverage of the changing rules.
• Air India will offer non-stop flights between Delhi and Sydney starting November 15, 2021. Air India will operate the thrice-a-week service on the Delhi-Sydney-Delhi route under the Vande Bharat Mission. Australia has also formally recognized Covaxin, India’s COVID-19 vaccine.
• India’s new visa norms stipulate that visas will be granted to foreigners only if they use water and air routes, not land routes. The Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed the gradual resumption of international travel to start from October 15, 2021 and tourist and e-visas will be issued for only a single entry per month. From November 15, all individual foreign nationals (on fresh tourist visas) will be allowed to enter India after observing prevailing COVID-19 protocols as notified by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. 
• The Union Home Ministry announced on Thursday that India will allow foreign tourists traveling by chartered flights (Vande Bharat and air bubble flights) from October 15, rest from November 15, 2021. Foreigner tourists will be allowed to come in on non-charter flights from November 15 unless the extended restrictions on scheduled flights is substantially lifted. See the Home Ministry’s press briefing here  and reporting by the Economic Times here .
• The Hindustan Times reporting on October 2 : “Australia’s visiting trade and tourism minister Dan Tehan said foreign students will be able to start “returning towards the end of this year and the beginning of next year”, ahead of the start of the first semester in February-March 2022. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia listed Covishield and China’s Coronavac (Sinovac) as “recognised vaccines” after an initial assessment of data on protection offered by the two jabs.”
• CoWin, India’s digital platform for COVID-19 vaccination, is allowing travelers to download an international version of their COVID-19 vaccine certificate, which is compliant with WHO’s international travel guidelines. This feature went live on September 30, 2021, and allows fully vaccinated individuals to update their existing photo identity to passport number and date of birth to get their International Travel Certificate. See website: https://www.cowin.gov.in/
• The Indian Bureau of Immigration noted the specific categories of foreign nationals who are permitted to enter India by water routes or by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission, or ‘Air Bubble’ (Bilateral Air Travel Arrangements) Scheme, or by any non-scheduled commercial flights as allowed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in its notice MHA O.M. No.25022/24/2020-F.V/F.I dated October 21, 2020. See here for reference.
• Air India has said it will run direct services between Muscat and Vijayawada “once a week or thrice from the first week of July”. The Vijayawada International Airport resumed international flights to Gulf destinations, such as Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat in June, to Singapore in April.
• Budget carrier Air India Express will operate a total of 64 flights between Malaysia and India in July under Vande Bharat Mission. More below.
• Foreign nationals who wish to travel to India for medical treatment can apply for a fresh visa under this category and choose one attendant to accompany them as per the visa category provisions (that is, if the original applicant has their medical visa approved).
• On October 8, 2020, India’s civil aviation authority said the future of international flights will depend on the availability of a vaccine, hinting at the extension of air travel bubble arrangements into March-April next year.
• Low-cost carrier SpiceJet announces its new flight operations connecting Delhi and Mumbai with London, starting December 4, which will come under the India-UK air bubble agreement.
• New standard operating protocol announced August 22, 2020 for non-scheduled commercial flights under the repatriation scheme, Vande Bharat Mission, and Air Transport Bubble Agreements.

(Note: This article was originally published on August 4, 2020 and last updated on February 10, 2023.)

India Briefing  is produced by  Dezan Shira & Associates . The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in  Delhi  and  Mumbai . Readers may write to   [email protected]  for business support in India.

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India has millions of tourists visiting throughout the year with many returning to discover things they missed out before. Not only does India have an excellent choice of sites to visit, but it also has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. India has a tropical monsoon climate during June until September; so, the best time to travel is between December and February where the dry season finds the temperature more agreeable.

Travel Health Information

Highly recommended vaccinations for travelling here, advisory vaccinations for travelling here.

India is hot and humid during the summer months of March to June when temperatures are particularly high. You can avoid sunburn and heatstroke by wearing light clothing that covers the body and using a high SPF sunscreen. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of bottled water, and avoid being out in the direct sun at the hottest times of the day. If you’re travelling to remote regions, and areas that are generally cooler such as the Himalayas, remember to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the activity you are doing. Be aware of situations that can be dangerous to your health, and take particular care around animals, and when eating and drinking.

If possible, try to avoid the border of India with Pakistan, as the current political instability has led to a less safe situation here. Be vigilant with your possessions, as theft and pickpocketing can be a risk, particularly in crowded areas.

If you are driving in India or travelling as a passenger in a road vehicle, be aware that roads here can be dangerous, and vehicle safety and driving standards may not be the same as in the UK. Consider whether the person driving is safe to do so and whether the vehicle is roadworthy before you get in.

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Destination Information for India

Goa is stunning, a great place to relax all day long! You can unwind on the beaches followed by a fantastic meal in one of the many restaurants. Nearly every visitor to the country visits the Taj Mahal; you can’t go to India without visiting this beautiful attraction. Delhi also has many beautiful places to visit including the Red Fort and the Golden Triangle.

Anyone taking a trip to India will need travel vaccinations, food and water borne diseases are common in India, therefore, Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines are strongly recommended. You need to be up to date with Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio and we would recommend Rabies vaccine and Japanese encephalitis depending upon your itinerary and the season. There is malaria in some parts of the country and Cholera outbreaks occur in some regions. There are mosquitoes that can cause diseases such as Dengue and Chikungunya, but our specialist team of nurses can advise you on the necessary precautions. Many visitors get travellers’ diarrhoea, but we have specific packs available to help treat and reduce the illness whilst abroad. Also, don’t forget travel insurance so you’re covered for medical emergencies. A flu jab should be considered as with all seasonal destinations.

Infections and Outbreaks frequently change from country to country and by attending our clinics you will be given the most up to date clinical and safety advice from our team of specialists. Our advice to you often includes aspects such as:

• Food and water hygiene
• Insect and animal bite avoidances
• Personal safety
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Sun protection
• Altitude sickness

Highlights of India

THE RED FORT enjoy this huge Mughal fort

OLD DELHI explore the crowded bazaars and learn how to haggle

CHANDI CHOWK take a rickshaw ride to the spice markets

TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA marvel at one of the wonders of the world

DARJEELING TEA PLANTATIONS JAIPUR Pink City Palace

Spirituality

India attracts visitors around the world in a quest for spirituality and self discovery. Every major religion throughout the globe can be found in India, which serves to nourish its different faiths, living in relative harmony.

Main spiritual destinations include

UDAIPUR sites of the Jagdish Temple

VARANASI observing people at the Ghats

AMRITSAR visit the magnificent Golden Temple

Wildlife and Natural World

SADANGIR see rare Asian lions

SATPURA visit their famous Tiger reserve

KOVALAM enjoy the sun while relaxing on the sandy beaches

KAZIRANGA where you can see a single horned rhinoceros

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Vaccinations, certificate requirements.

You need a yellow fever certificate for travel to India if you are arriving from a yellow fever country.

How much will it cost?

Recommended for all travellers.

The vaccines in this section are recommended for all travellers visiting the country.

If you have grown up in the UK, you have received a diphtheria vaccine as a part of your childhood vaccination schedule. Before going to Vietnam you should check whether you need a booster for diphtheria - this is the case if it has been over ten years since your last booster.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection which causes an inflammation of the liver. In countries where hep A is prominent, many people catch it as a child. The infection tends to be mild in children but can occasionally cause complications. In adults, however, it can lead to liver damage or even liver failure. Although infection rates appear to be on the decrease, hepatitis A is endemic to Sri Lanka and the vaccination is recommended for all travellers.

The tetanus vaccine - or a booster - is recommended for all travellers who are planning to visit a country where access to medical assistance may be limited. You can get tetanus when tetanus bacteria get into your bloodstream, usually due to injury or a wound. You need a booster if your last tetanus jab was over ten years ago.

Like hepatitis A, typhoid fever is a food- and waterborne disease. It causes digestive problems such as diarrhoea or constipation, stomach pain and a high fever. The typhoid vaccination is recommended for all travellers visiting Sri Lanka, where outbreaks continue to occur. In addition to getting vaccinated you should take care in choosing where you eat and practise good food hygiene while abroad.

Why do I need a consultation?

It is difficult to say which vaccines you need without asking a medical professional. Your itinerary, your medical history and the activities you have planned all affect which vaccinations you need. It is important that a trained travel nurse or pharmacist checks what you need.

Exactly the travel vaccinations you need - no more, no less.

During your consultation, our nurse or pharmacist will talk you through the health risks at your travel destinations to check which vaccines you need. If a vaccine is not essential, we will explain your options so you can decide whether you would like to have it.

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

Malaria Precautions

The malaria risk in India differs between regions.The areas with the highest risk of malaria include the states of Assam and Orissa, some north-eastern districts in the state of Andhra Pradesh, and some south-eastern districts in the state of Madhya Pradesh. You may need to use antimalarials when visiting these high risk areas.Antimalarials are not usually advised when travelling to low risk regions, such as the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal.There is no risk of malaria in the Lakshadweep islands.You need to practise insect bite avoidance in all regions. Your Superdrug nurse or pharmacist will assess your individual risk based on your itinerary and recommend a suitable antimalarial if required. Both doxycycline and Malarone can be used for malaria prevention in India.

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Travel vaccination advice

If you're planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

Vaccinations are available to protect you against infections such as yellow fever , typhoid and hepatitis A .

In the UK, the  NHS routine immunisation (vaccination) schedule protects you against a number of diseases, but does not cover all of the infectious diseases found overseas.

When should I start thinking about the vaccines I need?

If possible, see the GP or a private travel clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before you're due to travel.

Some vaccines need to be given well in advance to allow your body to develop immunity.

And some vaccines involve a number of doses spread over several weeks or months.

You may be more at risk of some diseases, for example, if you're:

• travelling in rural areas
• backpacking
• staying in hostels or camping
• on a long trip rather than a package holiday

If you have a pre-existing health problem, this may make you more at risk of infection or complications from a travel-related illness.

Which travel vaccines do I need?

You can find out which vaccinations are necessary or recommended for the areas you'll be visiting on these websites:

• Travel Health Pro
• NHS Fit for Travel

Some countries require proof of vaccination (for example, for polio or yellow fever vaccination), which must be documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) before you enter or when you leave a country.

Saudi Arabia requires proof of vaccination against certain types of meningitis for visitors arriving for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Even if an ICVP is not required, it's still a good idea to take a record of the vaccinations you have had with you.

Find out more about the vaccines available for travellers abroad

Where do I get my travel vaccines?

First, phone or visit the GP practice or practice nurse to find out whether your existing UK vaccinations are up-to-date.

If you have any records of your vaccinations, let the GP know what you have had previously.

The GP or practice nurse may be able to give you general advice about travel vaccinations and travel health, such as protecting yourself from malaria.

They can give you any missing doses of your UK vaccines if you need them.

Not all travel vaccinations are available free on the NHS, even if they're recommended for travel to a certain area.

If the GP practice can give you the travel vaccines you need but they are not available on the NHS, ask for:

• written information on what vaccines are needed
• the cost of each dose or course
• any other charges you may have to pay, such as for some certificates of vaccination

You can also get travel vaccines from:

• private travel vaccination clinics
• pharmacies offering travel healthcare services

Which travel vaccines are free?

The following travel vaccines are available free on the NHS from your GP surgery:

• polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab )
• hepatitis A

These vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.

Which travel vaccines will I have to pay for?

You'll have to pay for travel vaccinations against:

• hepatitis B
• Japanese encephalitis
• tick-borne encephalitis
• tuberculosis (TB)
• yellow fever

Yellow fever vaccines are only available from designated centres .

The cost of travel vaccines that are not available on the NHS will vary, depending on the vaccine and number of doses you need.

It's worth considering this when budgeting for your trip.

Other things to consider

There are other things to consider when planning your travel vaccinations, including:

• your age and health – you may be more vulnerable to infection than others; some vaccines cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions
• working as an aid worker – you may come into contact with more diseases in a refugee camp or helping after a natural disaster
• working in a medical setting – a doctor, nurse or another healthcare worker may require additional vaccinations
• contact with animals – you may be more at risk of getting diseases spread by animals, such as rabies

If you're only travelling to countries in northern and central Europe, North America or Australia, you're unlikely to need any vaccinations.

But it's important to check that you're up-to-date with routine vaccinations available on the NHS.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Speak to a GP before having any vaccinations if:

• you're pregnant
• you think you might be pregnant
• you're breastfeeding

In many cases, it's unlikely a vaccine given while you're pregnant or breastfeeding will cause problems for the baby.

But the GP will be able to give you further advice about this.

People with immune deficiencies

For some people travelling overseas, vaccination against certain diseases may not be advised.

This may be the case if:

• you have a condition that affects your body's immune system, such as HIV or AIDS
• you're receiving treatment that affects your immune system, such as chemotherapy
• you have recently had a bone marrow or organ transplant

A GP can give you further advice about this.

Non-travel vaccines

As well as getting any travel vaccinations you need, it's also a good opportunity to make sure your other vaccinations are up-to-date and have booster vaccines if necessary.

Although many routine NHS vaccinations are given during childhood, you can have some of them (such as the MMR vaccine ) as an adult if you missed getting vaccinated as a child.

There are also some extra NHS vaccinations for people at higher risk of certain illnesses, such as the flu vaccine , the hepatitis B vaccine and the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) .

Your GP can advise you about any NHS vaccinations you might need.

Find out about NHS vaccinations and when to have them

Page last reviewed: 16 March 2023 Next review due: 16 March 2026

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Summary of recommendations

Most travelers to India will need vaccinations for hepatitis A , typhoid fever , and polio , as well as medications for malaria prophylaxis and travelers' diarrhea . Other immunizations may be necessary depending upon the circumstances of the trip and the medical history of the traveler, as discussed below. Insect repellents are recommended, in conjunction with other measures to prevent mosquito bites. All travelers should visit either a travel health clinic or their personal physician 4-8 weeks before departure.

Malaria:Prophylaxis with Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil), or doxycycline is recommended for all areas, except for areas at altitudes >2,000 m (6,561 ft) in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir, and Sikkim.

Vaccinations:

Medications You can't Edit

Travelers' diarrhea is the most common travel-related ailment. The cornerstone of prevention is food and water precautions , as outlined below. All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs, defined as three or more loose stools in an 8-hour period or five or more loose stools in a 24-hour period, especially if associated with nausea, vomiting, cramps, fever or blood in the stool. A quinolone antibiotic is usually prescribed: either ciprofloxacin (Cipro)(PDF) 500 mg twice daily or levofloxacin (Levaquin) 500 mg once daily for a total of three days. Quinolones are generally well-tolerated, but occasionally cause sun sensitivity and should not be given to children, pregnant women, or anyone with a history of quinolone allergy. Alternative regimens include a three day course of rifaximin (Xifaxan) 200 mg three times daily or azithromycin (Zithromax) 500 mg once daily. Rifaximin should not be used by those with fever or bloody stools and is not approved for pregnant women or those under age 12. Azithromycin should be avoided in those allergic to erythromycin or related antibiotics. An antidiarrheal drug such as loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate (Lomotil) should be taken as needed to slow the frequency of stools, but not enough to stop the bowel movements completely. Diphenoxylate (Lomotil) and loperamide (Imodium) should not be given to children under age two.

Most cases of travelers' diarrhea are mild and do not require either antibiotics or antidiarrheal drugs. Adequate fluid intake is essential.

If diarrhea is severe or bloody, or if fever occurs with shaking chills, or if abdominal pain becomes marked, or if diarrhea persists for more than 72 hours, medical attention should be sought.

Though effective, antibiotics are not recommended prophylactically (i.e. to prevent diarrhea before it occurs) because of the risk of adverse effects, though this approach may be warranted in special situations, such as immunocompromised travelers.

Malaria in India: prophylaxis is recommended year-round throughout the country (including the cities of Delhi and Bombay), except at altitudes greater than 2000 m (6561 ft) in the states of Himachal, Jammu, Kashmir, Pradesh, and Sikkim. Most malaria cases are reported from forested areas in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Karnataka. Either mefloquine (Lariam) , atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)(PDF) , or doxycycline may be given. Mefloquine is taken once weekly in a dosage of 250 mg, starting one-to-two weeks before arrival and continuing through the trip and for four weeks after departure. Mefloquine may cause mild neuropsychiatric symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, and nightmares. Rarely, severe reactions occur, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, hallucinations, and seizures. Mefloquine should not be given to anyone with a history of seizures, psychiatric illness, cardiac conduction disorders, or allergy to quinine or quinidine. Those taking mefloquine (Lariam) should read the Lariam Medication Guide (PDF). Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) is a combination pill taken once daily with food starting two days before arrival and continuing through the trip and for seven days after departure. Side-effects, which are typically mild, may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, or dizziness. Serious adverse reactions are rare. Doxycycline is effective, but may cause an exaggerated sunburn reaction, which limits its usefulness in the tropics.

Long-term travelers who may not have access to medical care should bring along medications for emergency self-treatment should they develop symptoms suggestive of malaria, such as fever, chills, headaches, and muscle aches, and cannot obtain medical care within 24 hours. See malaria for details. Symptoms of malaria sometimes do not occur for months or even years after exposure.

Insect protection measures are essential.

Malaria outbreaks have been reported from the northeastern state of Assam for the last two years. See "Recent outbreaks" below.

For further information concerning malaria in India, including a breakdown of cases by states, go to Roll Back Malaria .

Altitude sickness may occur in travelers who ascend rapidly to altitudes greater than 2500 meters, which includes the mountainous areas of northern India. Acetazolamide is the drug of choice to prevent altitude sickness. The usual dosage is 125 or 250 mg twice daily starting 24 hours before ascent and continuing for 48 hours after arrival at altitude. Possible side-effects include increased urinary volume, numbness, tingling, nausea, drowsiness, myopia and temporary impotence. Acetazolamide should not be given to pregnant women or those with a history of sulfa allergy. For those who cannot tolerate acetazolamide, the preferred alternative is dexamethasone 4 mg taken four times daily. Unlike acetazolamide, dexamethasone must be tapered gradually upon arrival at altitude, since there is a risk that altitude sickness will occur as the dosage is reduced.

Travel to high altitudes is not generally recommended for those with a history of heart disease, lung disease, or sickle cell disease.

Immunizations You can't Edit

The following are the recommended vaccinations for India:

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all travelers over one year of age. It should be given at least two weeks (preferably four weeks or more) before departure. A booster should be given 6-12 months later to confer long-term immunity. Two vaccines are currently available in the United States: VAQTA (Merck and Co., Inc.) (PDF) and Havrix (GlaxoSmithKline) (PDF) . Both are well-tolerated. Side-effects, which are generally mild, may include soreness at the injection site, headache, and malaise.

Older adults, immunocompromised persons, and those with chronic liver disease or other chronic medical conditions who have less than two weeks before departure should receive a single intramuscular dose of immune globulin (0.02 mL/kg) at a separate anatomic injection site in addition to the initial dose of vaccine. Travelers who are less than one year of age or allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single intramuscular dose of immune globulin (see hepatitis A for dosage) in the place of vaccine.

Typhoid vaccine is recommended for all travelers. It is generally given in an oral form ( Vivotif Berna ) consisting of four capsules taken on alternate days until completed. The capsules should be kept refrigerated and taken with cool liquid. Side-effects are uncommon and may include abdominal discomfort, nausea, rash or hives. The alternative is an injectable polysaccharide vaccine (Typhim Vi; Aventis Pasteur Inc.) (PDF) , given as a single dose. Adverse reactions, which are uncommon, may include discomfort at the injection site, fever and headache. The oral vaccine is approved for travelers at least six years old, whereas the injectable vaccine is approved for those over age two. There are no data concerning the safety of typhoid vaccine during pregnancy. The injectable vaccine (Typhim Vi) is probably preferable to the oral vaccine in pregnant and immunocompromised travelers.

Polio immunization is recommended. Any adult who received the recommended childhood immunizations but never received a booster as an adult should be given a single dose of inactivated polio vaccine. All children should be up-to-date in their polio immunizations and any adult who never completed the initial series of immunizations should do so before departure. Side-effects are uncommon and may include pain at the injection site. Since inactivated polio vaccine includes trace amounts of streptomycin, neomycin and polymyxin B, individuals allergic to these antibiotics should not receive the vaccine.

Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for long-term (1 month) travelers to rural areas or travelers who may engage in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially in the evening, during shorter trips. Peak transmission occurs from May to October, during and just after the monsoon season. An outbreak was reported from Uttar Pradesh in August 2005 (see "Recent outbreaks" below.) Historically, outbreaks have occurred in Andhra Pradesh every two to three years. Outbreaks have also been reported from West Bengal, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Goa. Urban cases have been reported (e.g. Lucknow). In India, the only states not reporting Japanese encephalitis are Arunachai, Dadra, Daman, Diu, Gujarat, Himachai, Jammu, Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Nagar Haveli, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.

The recommended vaccine is IXIARO , given 0.5 cc intramuscularly, followed by a second dose 28 days later. The series should be completed at least one week before travel. The most common side effects are headaches, muscle aches, and pain and tenderness at the injection site. Safety has not been established in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children under the age of two months.

Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all travelers if not previously vaccinated. Two vaccines are currently licensed in the United States: Recombivax HB (Merck and Co., Inc.) (PDF) and Engerix-B (GlaxoSmithKline) (PDF) . A full series consists of three intramuscular doses given at 0, 1 and 6 months. Engerix-B is also approved for administration at 0, 1, 2, and 12 months, which may be appropriate for travelers departing in less than 6 months. Side-effects are generally mild and may include discomfort at the injection site and low-grade fever. Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) occur rarely.

Rabies vaccine is recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, for travelers at high risk for animal bites, such as veterinarians and animal handlers, for long-term travelers and expatriates, and for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites. Dog bites account for most cases of rabies in India. Bites from cats, tigers, camels, and the Indian civet may also transmit rabies. A complete preexposure series consists of three doses of vaccine injected into the deltoid muscle on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28. Side-effects may include pain at the injection site, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, dizziness, or allergic reactions.

Any animal bite or scratch should be thoroughly cleaned with large amounts of soap and water and local health authorities should be contacted immediately for possible post-exposure treatment, whether or not the person has been immunized against rabies.

All travelers should be up-to-date on routine immunizations, including

• Tetanus - diphtheria vaccine (recommended for all travelers who have not received a tetanus-diphtheria immunization within the last 10 years; diphtheria reported among children in north India September 1999)
• Measles vaccine (recommended for any traveler born after 1956 who does not have either a history of two documented measles immunizations or a blood test showing immunity. Many adults who had only one vaccination show immunity when tested and do not need the second vaccination. Measles vaccine should not be given to pregnant or severely immunocompromised individuals.)
• Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine (recommended for any international traveler over one year of age who does not have either a history of documented chickenpox or a blood test showing immunity. Many people who believe they never had chickenpox show immunity when tested and do not need the vaccine. Varicella vaccine should not be given to pregnant or immunocompromised individuals.)

Cholera vaccine is not generally recommended, even though outbreaks occur (see below), because most travelers are at low risk for infection. Two oral vaccines have recently been developed: Orochol (Mutacol) , licensed in Canada and Australia, and Dukoral , licensed in Canada, Australia, and the European Union. These vaccines, where available, are recommended only for high-risk individuals, such as relief workers, health professionals, and those traveling to remote areas where cholera epidemics are occurring and there is limited access to medical care. The only cholera vaccine approved for use in the United States is no longer manufactured or sold, due to low efficacy and frequent side-effects.

Yellow fever vaccine is required for all travelers greater than six months of age arriving from country in Africa or the Americas with risk of yellow fever transmission, or arriving from or transiting through the following countries:

Africa: Angola, Bénin, 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, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

Americas: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

Any person (except infants up to the age of 6 months) arriving without a certificate within 6 days of departure from or transit through an infected area, or arriving on a ship that started from or touched at any port in an area with risk of yellow fever transmission up to 30 days before its arrival in India, unless such a ship has been disinsected in accordance with the procedure recommended by WHO, will be isolated for up to 6 days.

Yellow fever vaccine (YF-VAX; Aventis Pasteur Inc.) (PDF) must be administered at an approved yellow fever vaccination center , which will give each vaccinee a fully validated International Certificate of Vaccination. Yellow fever vaccine should not in general be given to those who are younger than nine months of age, pregnant, immunocompromised, or allergic to eggs. It should also not be given to those with a history of thymus disease or thymectomy. Yellow fever vaccine is not recommended or required for travelers arriving directly from North America, Europe, Australia, or other Asian countries.

Recent outbreaks of diseases You can't Edit

Recent outbreaks

An encephalitis outbreak was reported from north Bengal in July 2014, causing over 200 deaths by August. About a quarter of the cases were caused by Japanese encephalitis. The cause of the other cases remains unknown. The largest number of cases was reported from Jalpaiguri district, with rural areas in Dhupguri and Moynaguri particularly affected because of the presence of a large number of pig farms there. As above, Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for long-term (greater than 1 month) travelers to rural areas and travelers who may engage in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially in the evening, during shorter trips.

An outbreak of scrub typhus was reported from Himachal Pradesh in July 2014, particularly affecting Bilaspur district. A total of 137 cases were reported. Before that, outbreaks of scrub typhus were reported from Himachal Pradesh in September 2012, causing hundreds of cases and 28 fatalities, and in September 2013, causing dozens of cases and no fatalities. A fatal case of typhus was reported from Kota district, Rajasthan state, in September 2014. Sporadic cases were reported from Chennai (Tamil Nadu) in the last few months of 2013.

Scrub typhus is transmitted by mites. The disease is characterized by fever, enlarged lymph nodes, rash, and an eschar (scab) at the bite site. The treatment of choice is doxycycline. Most travelers are at low risk.

Cases of scrub typhus were also reported from Wardha district, Maharashtra, in November 2012; from Rajasthan in October 2012, causing at least 14 deaths; from Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula in October 2012; from Kozhikode district, Kerala state, in June 2012; from Chennai and from Erode district, Tamil Nadu, in January 2012; from Pune, Maharashtra, in January 2012 and again in May 2014; from Meghalaya in December 2011; and from Poilwa village, Peren District, Nagaland, and from Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh in March 2011 (see ProMED-mail ; March 19 and September 17, 2011, January 21, February 3, and September 23, 2012, May 15, 2014). An outbreak of scrub typhus was reported in December 2009 from the state of Meghalaya, causing more than 80 cases and five deaths. Most of those affected were from the rural areas of West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills, and Ri Bhoi (see ProMED-mail , December 17, 2009).

An outbreak of hepatitis E was reported in June 2012 from the textile town of Ichalkaranji in the state of Maharashtra, causing more than 4000 cases and 12 deaths. The outbreak was thought to have been caused by contaminated water from the Panchganga river, which was being used for drinking due to shortages from other sources. In December 2011, a hepatitis E outbreak was reported from the town of Mehsana in the state of Gujarat, probably caused by contamination of the municipal water supply. In July 2011, a hepatitis E outbreak occurred in Jaipur, probably related to contamination of drinking water due to antiquated pipelines. Hepatitis E virus is transmitted by contaminated food or water. The mortality rate is particularly high in pregnant women. As below, travelers to India should not consume any liquids unless bottled or boiled.

In January 2010, a hepatitis E outbreak was reported from Shimla, the state capital of Himachal Pradesh, related to sewage contamination of water supplies, causing more than 160 cases by February. In August 2007, an outbreak of hepatitis E was reported from Kashmir, resulting in 400 suspected cases (see ProMED-mail , August 6, 2007, and July 16, 2011). An increased number of cases was reported from Mumbai in 2004.

An outbreak of hepatitis A was reported from the Maulana Azad Medical College Delhi in January 2014 and from district of Kerala state in December 2011, during the monsoon season (see ProMED-mail , December 13, 2011). Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all travelers to India.

An outbreak of leptospirosis outbreak was reported from the southern part of the state of Gujarat in August 2011, causing more than 700 cases and more than 100 deaths, and from the Malabar area of the state of Kerala in September 2011, causing more than 200 suspected cases (see ProMED-mail ). Cases are reported from Gujarat every year during the rainy season, typically affecting the Surat, Navasari, and Valsad districts. In July 2006, a leptospirosis outbreak was reported from Mumbai (Bombay), and in May 2006, an outbreak was reported from Vadaserikara in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, in the southern part of India. Leptospirosis is characterized by flu-like symptoms and rash, sometimes complicated by meningitis, jaundice or kidney failure. The infection is acquired by exposure to water contaminated by the urine of infected animals. In India, the animal reservoir includes rats, cattle, rodents, bandicoots, pigs, dogs, and cats. Outbreaks usually occur with the onset of the monsoon season. Most cases occur in farm workers. Those who may be exposed to water potentially contaminated by animal urine may consider taking a prophylactic 200 mg dose of doxycycline, either once weekly or as a one-time dose before exposure. Most travelers are at low risk.

A rabies outbreak was reported from Chennai in April 2011, causing 15 deaths in the first four months of the year, compared to 12 deaths for all of 2010 and 13 deaths for 2009 (see ProMED-mail , April 21, 2011). Travelers to India should avoid contact with stray dogs, who are the most common source of rabies in India.

A measles outbreak was reported in March 2011 from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. In September 2008, a measles outbreak occurred in the mountainous Kishtwar district in the state of Jammu and Kasmir. All travelers born after 1956 should make sure they have had either two documented MMR or measles immunizations or a blood test showing measles immunity. Those born before 1957 are presumed to be immune. Although measles immunization is usually begun at age 12 months, children between the ages of 6 and 11 months should be given an initial dose of measles or MMR vaccine before traveling to India.

A malaria outbreak was reported from the state of Haryana in October 2010, chiefly affecting Bhattu Kalan. A steep increase in the number of malaria cases was reported from the western part of the state of Rajasthan in September 2010. A malaria outbreak was reported from Mumbai in July 2010, causing thousands of cases and 137 deaths as of March 2011, chiefly in central Mumbai, where a large number of construction projects were under way. As of June 2011, cases were still being reported from Mumbai, chiefly from Andheri and nearby areas. Cases of malaria were reported from Kerala in July 2010, several years after it had been officially eradicated in the state. A malaria outbreak was reported in April 2010 from Karnataka, an area usually thought to represent a relatively low risk for the disease. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all parts of India, except high-altitude areas.

Twelve cases of malaria were reported between December 2006 and February 2007 among European travelers to Goa, which had previously been thought to be a low risk area for the disease. Most travelers had visited beach resorts north of Panaji. All cases were caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the species which causes the most severe illness. The outbreak appeared to coincide with a period of intense rainfall (50% above average) in the Goan and Konokan region beginning in October 2006, leading to proliferation of mosquitoes. During the same time period, an increased number of malaria cases was observed among the indigenous population. In January 2008, a case of malaria was reported in a Swedish woman who had visited Candolim beach in Goa, indicating ongoing risk. Two more cases were reported in European travelers in January 2009. An increase in the number of cases among local residents was reported in 2012. See Eurosurveillance , ProMED-mail   and TropNetEurop for details. Malaria prophylaxis with Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone, or doxycycline is recommended for all travelers to Goa.

Malaria outbreaks are regularly reported from the northeastern state of Assam, usually in the spring. An outbreak which began in April 2006 had caused approximately 500 deaths by June (see ProMED-mail , April 20 and May 7, 2006). A malaria outbreak was also reported from the neighboring state of West Bengal in June 2006, affecting more than 18,000 people, including 55 deaths (see ProMED-mail , June 27, 2006). In June 2005, a malaria outbreak related to heavy rains, which amplified the mosquito population, involved more than 10,000 people in Assam and caused at least 25 deaths (see ProMED-mail , June 4, 2005). Malaria outbreaks were also reported from Assam in the summers of 2001 and 2002, the latter involving more than 40,000 people (see The Lancet Infectious Diseases and ProMED-mail , June 5, 2001). An increased number of malaria cases was reported from Rajasthan in July 2007, chiefly the western part of the state. See ProMED-mail (July 17, 2007; April 26, May 18, and July 14, 2010) for further information.

Outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome are being reported annually from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Assam. Some of these cases have been shown to be caused by Japanese encephalitis, but the cause of many cases has not been determined to date. An outbreak of acute encephalitis was reported from the Muzaffarpur district in Bihar in June 2014, causing almost 190 fatalities, chiefly in children, by the end of the month.

In the summer of 2009, an outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome caused more than 4000 cases and 567 deaths in Uttar Pradesh and 164 cases and 78 deaths in Assam. Between April and December 2010, an additional 3754 cases and 541 deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, chiefly from Gorakhpur. Cases were also reported from neighboring Nepal. A fresh outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome was reported in July 2011. As of December 2011, more than 3000 cases and more than 600 deaths had been reported from Uttar Pradesh, chiefly Gorakhpur, and more than 1000 cases and 92 deaths had been reported from Bihar, chiefly Gaya. As of September 2011, there were 1308 cases (246 fatal) in Assam, 404 cases (13 fatal) in Tamil Nadu, and 341 cases (10 fatal) in West Bengal. In Assam, Sivasagar district was particularly affected. A new series of outbreaks were reported in June 2012, causing 588 deaths in Uttar Pradesh (chiefly Gorakhpur and other areas in the eastern part of the state), more than 300 deaths in Bihar, and 20 deaths in Assam (mostly Sivasagar district). For the year 2013, more than 2000 people in Uttar Pradesh required hospital admission for encephalitis and there were 479 fatalities. As before, some but not all of these cases were caused by Japanese encephalitis virus. For further information, go to ProMED-mail . An outbreak of encephalitis of unknown cause was reported from Gujarat in July 2010. Preliminary data indicate the cause may have been Chandipura virus (see ProMED-mail , August 5 and 7, 2010).

Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis occur annually, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Assam in the northern p art of India. Cases are also reported each year from Bihar. The latest outbreak occurred in Assam in August 2014, causing more than 1200 cases and 350 deaths. The district of Sivasagar was particularly affected. A smaller outbreak was reported around the same time from Meghalaya state. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for long-term (greater than 1 month) travelers to rural areas or travelers who may engage in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially in the evening, during shorter trips.

Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis were reported from Uttar Pradesh in June 2012, causing 129 deaths, from Assam's Sivasagar district in July 2012, and from Odisha's Malkangiri district in November 2012, killing at least 24 children. In August 2011, an outbreak was reported from Assam, causing more than 350 cases and nearly 90 deaths. At around the same time, an outbreak occurred in Bihar, chiefly involving the city of Gaya and causing 84 deaths as of November. An outbreak was reported from Ranchi in Jharkhand state in September 2011, causing 36 cases, 12 of them fatal. In September-October 2011, an outbreak occurred in Mahrajganj district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, killing at least 40 children. A small number of cases were also reported from Delhi in between September and December 2011.

An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis was reported in July 2010 from Manipur, resulting in 34 confirmed cases and many more suspected cases. In May 2009, an outbreak was reported from the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh and neighboring areas. In July 2008, an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis caused more than 2400 suspected cases and 447 deaths in Uttar Pradesh and more than 100 suspected cases and 23 deaths in Assam. In Uttar Pradesh, most of those affected were from the Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Mahrajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar and Siddharthanagar districts. A single case was reported from Kolkata in October 2008, the first in ten years. In July 2007, an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis was reported from the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, resulting in almost 500 deaths, and from Assam, resulting in 115 confirmed deaths. An outbreak also occurred in eastern Uttar Pradesh in October 2006, causing almost 300 deaths (see ProMED-mail , November 6, 2006; July 28, September 30, and October 26, 2007; and September 18, 2008). In August 2005, a major Japanese encephalitis outbreak was reported from Uttar Pradesh and the neighboring province of Bihar, chiefly among young children and others living in rural areas. More than 6000 suspected cases were identified, almost one-quarter of them fatal. Many of those who survived showed evidence of mental retardation or other neurological deficits. See the World Health Organization , NATHNAC and ProMED-mail (August 26, 2005) for further information. In September 1999, an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis was reported from Andhra Pradesh state, which historically records outbreaks every 2-3 years.

A mixed outbreak of dengue fever and chikungunya fever was reported from the state of Karnataka in June 2014, chiefly affecting Ramanagara district. Mixed outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya also occurred in Tamil Nadu in January 2010, affecting hundreds of people, and in the city of Pune in the state of Maharashtra in November 2010. See ProMED-mail (February 12 and November 11, 2010, June 30, 2014) for further information.

An outbreak of malaria with a high frequency of cerebral involvement was reported from Munger district in the state of Bihar in August 2009 (see ProMED-mail , August 10, 2009). Malaria prophylaxis and insect protection measures are recommended for all travelers to India.

An outbreak of chikungunya fever was reported from India in February 2006. As of March 2007, a total of 32 cases of chikungunya fever had been reported among Americans who had visited India. Fresh cases continue to be reported. Chikungunya fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, joint pains, muscle aches, headache, and rash. The disease is almost never fatal, but may be complicated by protracted fatigue and malaise. Rarely, the infection is complicated by meningoencephalitis, which is usually seen in newborns and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Insect protection measures are strongly recommended, as described below. Because of the risk of mother-to-child transmission, pregnant women need to take special care to protect themselves from mosquito bites. For additional information, go to the Chikungunya Fever Fact Sheet on the CDC website.

More than 1.25 million suspected cases were reported in 2006, including more than 700,000 suspected cases in Karnataka and more than 200,000 in Maharashtra. In the first nine months of 2008, more than 70,000 cases were described, mostly in the states of Karnataka (especially Mangalore district) and neighboring Kerala. There was also an ongoing outbreak in West Bengal. Since the outbreak began, cases have also been reported from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, Rajasthan, Pondicherry, Goa, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In March 2009, an outbreak was reported from Kothra village of Nandod taluka, Narmada district, Gujarat. An outbreak was reported from Goa in May 2009 and again in July 2009. In June 2009, October 2009, and August 2010, an increased number of cases were reported from Karnataka. In August 2009, an outbreak was reported from the island of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu state. In September 2009, an outbreak was reported from Keezhakarai and surrounding villages in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, and cases were reported from Hyderabad. Between September and November 2010, 25 cases were reported from Mumbai and 41 cases from New Delhi. Outbreaks were reported from Orissa state in December 2010 and again in May 2012, from Goa in January 2011, from Uttar Pradesh in October 2011, from Bihar state and from Delhi in November 2011, from Kerala in December 2011 and March 2012, from Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal in June 2012, from Delhi and from Shinor taluka in Gujarat in October 2012, from Ganjam district of Odisha in January 2013, and from Chennai, Merpanaikadu, and Maaradi village in Tamil Nadu state in September 2014. See the World Health Organization , MMWR , Eurosurveillance , and ProMED-mail for further details.

Outbreaks of dengue fever occur regularly in India. The most recent were reported between August and October 2011 from Delhi, from the ciy of Jaipur in Rajasthan state, from the city of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, from the city of Ludhiana in Punjab state, from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state, from Hyderabad city in Andhra Pradesh state, from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, from the city of Chandigarh, and from Orissa state. A much larger outbreak was reported from Delhi in June 2010, causing more than 6000 cases and eight deaths by November. Outbreaks were also reported from Kerala and Assam in November 2010; from Bihar in September 2010, causing more than 500 cases and at least six deaths; from Orissa's tribal-dominated Malkangiri district in August 2010; from Kerala and from Pimpri-Chinchwad in the Pune district of Maharashtra state in June 2010; from Kerala in March 2010, from New Delhi and from Madhya Pradesh in October 2009, and from Gujarat in August 2009. In July 2009, outbreaks were reported from Kolkata (Calcutta) and from Kerala (in the southern part of the country). An outbreak was reported from the campus of the Medical College in Kerala in April 2009 and again in June 2009. An outbreak in 2008 caused more than 2800 cases nationwide, mostly in Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi (chiefly West Delhi). As of late September, the number of new cases appeared to be declining, except in Delhi. In October and November, 2008, outbreaks were reported from West Bengal state and from Ludhiana, Mohali, and Bathinda in Punjab state. A major dengue outbreak was reported in September 2006, especially affecting Delhi, leading to 9940 cases and 183 deaths as of mid-November. In June 2003, a major dengue outbreak was reported from Delhi and surrounding areas, resulting in 2185 confirmed cases and four deaths (see the World Health Organization ). A previous outbreak occurred in Delhi from August to November 1996.

Dengue fever is a flu-like illness which is sometimes complicated by hemorrhage or shock. The infection is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite primarily in the daytime and favor densely populated areas, though they also inhabit rural environments. No vaccine is available at this time. Insect protection measures are strongly advised, as outlined below. For further information on dengue in India, go to the World Health Organization - South-East Asia Region .

An outbreak of typhoid fever was reported from Jamnagar, Gujarat state, in May 2013. and from Punjab in April 2012. An increased number of cases of typhoid fever was reported in March 2012 from rural areas in central Karnataka. In August 2010, a typhoid outbreak was reported in August 2010 from Panchkula, a city in the northwestern Indian state of Haryana. In June 2007, a typhoid outbreak occurred in the Kangpokpi area of Senapati district, Manipur state. In August 2006, a typhoid outbreak was reported from West Kochi, in the southern part of India, resulting in more than 300 suspected cases (see ProMED-mail ; August 28, 2006. and August 29, 2010).

Cases of typhoid which show increased resistance to quinolones or third-generation cephalosporins, the antibiotics often used to treat these infections, have recently been reported among travelers to India and Nepal, though some strains retain susceptibility to newer quinolones, such as gatifloxacin (see Eurosurveillance and ProMED-mail , October 31 and November 5, 2011). Typhoid vaccine is recommended for all travelers to India.

An outbreak of meningococcal meningitis was reported in January 2009 from the state of Meghalaya in northeastern India. By February 2009, the outbreak had spread to the neighboring states of Tripura and Mizoram and had caused at least 2000 suspected cases and at least 230 deaths. Meningococcal infections are spread person-to-person by exposure to secretions from the nose or throat, and may lead to meningitis, marked by the abrupt onset of fever, headache, stiff neck, and lethargy, frequently with a rash. At the present time, meningococcal vaccine is recommended for all travelers to Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. In May 2005, a meningococcal outbreak occurred in Delhi, resulting in 441 cases and 60 deaths, chiefly in young adults. Most cases were reported from the walled city of Old Delhi, chiefly in Shahdara North, Shahdara South, Sadar Paharganj, Civil Lines, and Central. See the World Health Organization and Health Canada for further information.

An outbreak of hepatitis B , apparently transmitted by physicians who used contaminated needles and syringes, was reported from Sabarkantha district, Gujarat state in February 2009. A total of 92 deaths were identified (see ProMED-mail ). Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travelers to India.

A conjunctivitis ("pink-eye") outbreak was reported from Mumbai in October 2007. Most outbreaks of conjunctivitis are caused by enteroviruses or adenoviruses. In most cases, the illness resolves uneventfully, but may cause significant discomfort and temporary incapacity. Acute conjunctivitis may be prevented by frequent hand washing and by not sharing towels and bedding.

An outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease was reported from Calcutta in September 2007 (see ProMED-mail ; September 23, 2007). Most outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease are caused by enteroviruses, which are transmitted by exposure to fecal material from infected individuals. Most cases occur in infants and young children, though adults may also be affected. The illness is characterized by fever, oral blisters, and a rash or blisters on the palms and soles. Most cases resolve uneventfully, but a small percentage are complicated by encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). The key to prevention is good personal hygiene and scrupulous hand-washing, especially after defecation and before handling food.

An outbreak of Nipah virus infections was reported in May 2007 from Nadia district in West Bengal state, killing five people (see ProMED-mail ; May 8 and 10, 2007). A Nipah virus outbreak was also reported from West Bengal in January-February 2001, affecting the district of Siliguri (see Emerging Infectious Diseases ). Nipah virus infections begin with flu-like symptoms, including high fevers and muscle pains, which may be followed by inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), resulting in drowsiness, disorientation, convulsions, coma, and death. Most cases of Nipah virus infection occur in those who have had close contact with infected pigs. The disease may also be transmitted from person-to-person, especially in health care settings. Most travelers are at extremely low risk.

Outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza ("bird flu") were reported from commercial poultry farms in Maharashtra state in February 2006 and from the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh shortly thereafter. The most recent poultry outbreaks have been reported from the northeastern part of the country, near the border with Bangladesh: between January and April 2008 from West Bengal, in April 2008 from Tripura, in November and December 2008 from Assam, from West Bengal between December 2008 and May 2009, from Tripura in March 2011, from Assam in August 2011, and from West Bengal in September 2011. No human cases have been reported from India to date.

Most travelers are at extremely low risk for avian influenza, since almost all human cases in other countries have occurred in those who have had direct contact with live, infected poultry, or sustained, intimate contact with family members suffering from the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization do not advise against travel to countries affected by avian influenza, but recommend that travelers should avoid exposure to live poultry, including visits to poultry farms and open markets with live birds; should not touch any surfaces that might be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals; and should make sure all poultry and egg products are thoroughly cooked. A vaccine for avian influenza was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but produces adequate antibody levels in fewer than half of recipients and is not commercially available. The vaccines for human influenza do not protect against avian influenza. Anyone who develops fever and flu-like symptoms after travel to India, especially West Bengal, should seek immediate medical attention, which may include testing for avian influenza. For further information, go to the World Health Organization , Health Canada , the Centers for Disease Control , and ProMED-mail .

An outbreak of poliomyelitis was reported in August 2006 from Moradabad district, western Uttar Pradesh. For India as a whole, a total of 674 polio cases were recorded for the year 2006, more than ten times as many as the previous year. A total of 864 cases were recorded for the year 2007, 546 cases in 2008, and 724 cases in 2009. Most of these cases were reported from Uttar Pradesh and the neighboring state of Bihar. For the first nine months of 2010, only 38 cases were described. For the first ten months of 2011, only one case was identified (a case from West Bengal in January). For further information, go to the World Health Organization . At the present time, polio transmission in India is limited to western Uttar Pradesh and the states of Bihar and Uttarakhand. A one-time polio booster is recommended for any adult traveler who received the recommended childhood immunizations but never had polio vaccine as an adult. Children should be fully immunized against polio before traveling to India.

Cholera outbreaks occur frequently in India. The most recent were reported in August 2011 from Maharashtra; in July 2011 from Sarai village, Gujarat; in June 2011 from Kerala; in April 2011 from Yamunanagar district, Haryana; in January 2011 from Mumbai and from Pune in the state of Maharashtra; in October 2010 from Sonitpur district in Assam and from Islamabad district in south Kashmir; in September 2010 from the Rayagada, Koraput, Balangir, and Kalahandi districts in Orissa; in May 2010 from Choranda village in Gujarat and from Theni district in Tamil Nadu; in September 2009 from the Kalbadevi area in Mumbai and from Narmada district in Gujarat; in July-August 2009 from the state of Punjab; and in June 2009 from Tumkur city in the state of Karnataka and from the city of Surat in the state of Gujarat. The city of Delhi reported 732 cases in the first nine months of 2008. In September 2008, outbreaks were reported from Murshidabad in West Bengal and from Valiya taluk in Gujarat. In September 2007, a cholera outbreak occurred in the state of Orissa in eastern India, causing almost 200 deaths, after a typhoon hit the area. At about the same time, a much smaller outbreak was reported from Ambala Cantonment in Haryana. In April 2007, a cholera outbreak occurred in the Bally municipality area of Howrah in West Bengal. In October 2006, a small outbreak was reported from Mumbai. In August 2006, an outbreak was reported from Tibba Village in Nurpur Bedi area of Ropar district. An outbreak in Delhi that began in April 2006 had caused 550 cases as of July. A large cholera outbreak was reported in November 2005 from the southeastern coastal city of Chennai (Madras) after heavy rains and flooding (see ProMED-mail ; November 18, 2005). In July 2001, a cholera outbreak related to flooding was reported from Orissa State, resulting in 34,000 cases and 33 deaths as of mid-August (see the World Health Organization .)

The main symptoms of cholera are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting, which in severe cases may lead to dehydration and death. Most outbreaks are related to contaminated drinking water, typically in situations of poverty, overcrowding, and poor sanitation. Most travelers are at extremely low risk for infection. Cholera vaccine, where available, is recommended only for certain high-risk individuals, such as relief workers, health professionals, and those traveling to remote areas where cholera epidemics are occurring and there is limited access to medical care. All travelers should carefully observe food and water precautions , as below.

An outbreak of pneumonic plague (plague involving the lungs) was reported in February 2002 from Hat Koti village, Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh state. As of February 19, a total of 16 cases had been identified, including four deaths. The outbreak appears to be limited to the residents of this village. The risk to travelers appears to be extremely low. The World Health Organization recommends no special restrictions on travel or trade to or from India. For further information, go to the World Health Organization and ProMED-mail . A previous outbreak of pneumonic plague occurred in 1994. Eight states were involved, including Maharashtra (including Bombay), Gujarat (including the city of Surat), Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal, as well as the federal district of New Delhi.

Visceral leishmaniasis , a parasitic infection transmitted by sandfly bites, is on the rise in India and has reached epidemic proportions in Bihar State. Large number of cases are also reported from the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand (see ProMED-mail ; October 9, 2011). Visceral leishmaniasis causes fever, weight loss, anemia, and enlargement of the liver and spleen developing over months to years. The disease is especially severe among those with HIV. Travelers to Bihar, West Bengal, and Jharkhand should be sure to take steps to protect themselves from sandfly bites, as described below.

Buffalopox was reported in five children from two villages in Beed district, Maharashtra State in March 1998, at the same time that the illness was occurring locally in cattle. The illness in humans is characterized by fever, enlarged lymph nodes and pox lesions on the hands. Three cases of the disease were also reported from Maharashtra State between 1992 and 1994.

Other Infections You can't Edit

Other infections

• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (five cases reported from Gujarat in January 2011; one additional case in Gujarat in May 2011 and two in June 2012)
• African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) (three cases reported from Maharastra in 2007, including one from Mumbai)
• Vibrio parahemolyticus (rapidly increasing since 1996)
• Cutaneous leishmaniasis (Rajasthan State)
• Brucellosis (outbreak reported from Calcutta in August 2000; see ProMED-mail )
• Kyasanur Forest disease (transmitted by ticks who have fed on infected monkeys; most cases reported from forested areas in Karnataka State during dry spells; outbreak reported from Karnataka in February 2014, causing 74 cases by April, chiefly in the districts of Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada; outbreaks reported from Bandipur Tiger Reserve, bordering Mysore district, in November 2012 and from Shimoga district, in February-March 2012, both in Karnataka state; cases reported from Honnavar taluk in Karnataka in February 2009; outbreaks reported from Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, and Dakshina Kannada districts in April-June 2003 and from the Western Ghats region in April-May 2000; see ProMED-mail )
• Chandipura virus encephalitis (outbreak reported from the eastern districts of Gujarat State in 2004)
• Anthrax (most outbreaks reported from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Orissa; most cases occur in villagers who have direct contact with infected animals or animal products; outbreaks reported in June 2014 from Odisha state after villagers consumed infected buffalo and goat meat; in June 2013 and May 2014 from Odisha state; from sheep-rearing areas of northern coastal Andhra Pradesh [AP], Godavari districts, and Krishna districts in June 2013; from Murshidabad district in West Bengal in June 2007 and July 2010, from the Koraput district of Orissa and the Nellore area in Andhra Pradesh in February 2008, from Rayagada district in Orissa state and from Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh in March 2009, from the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh in May 2009, from Orissa in June 2009, from the Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal in May 2010; from Koraput district in Orissa in June 2010; from Kandhamal district in Orissa in June 2011; from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh in July 2011; and from Koraput village in Orissa in April 2013; see Emerging Infectious Diseases and ProMED-mail )
• Indian tick typhus (outbreak reported in March 2011 from Lunglei district in Mizoram, causing six fatal cases; outbreak reported in August 2007 from Deol village in Himachal Pradesh, in the far north of the country; see ProMED-mail ; August 6, 2007, and May 2, 2011)
• Typhus (outbreak reported in July 2007 from the state of Kerala, in the south)
• Tick-borne relapsing fever (northern India)
• Louse-borne relapsing fever
• Tick-borne spotted fever
• Lymphatic filariasis (see the World Health Organization - South-East Asia Region for further information)
• Trichinellosis (outbreak reported from Uttarakhand in October 2011, related to consumption of infected wild boar meat)
• West Nile fever (transmitted by mosquitoes; small number of cases reported from Kerala in November 2011 and June 2014)
• Cysticercosis
• Echinococcosis
• Giant intestinal fluke (fasciolopsiasis)
• Lung fluke (paragonimiasis)

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection is reported, but travelers are not at risk unless they have unprotected sexual contacts or receive injections or blood transfusions.

For a country health profile of India, go to the World Health Organization .

Food and Water You can't Edit

Food and water precautions

Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected . Do not drink unbottled beverages or drinks with ice. Do not eat fruits or vegetables unless they have been peeled or cooked. Avoid cooked foods that are no longer piping hot. Cooked foods that have been left at room temperature are particularly hazardous. Avoid unpasteurized milk and any products that might have been made from unpasteurized milk, such as ice cream. Avoid food and beverages obtained from street vendors. Do not eat raw or undercooked meat or fish. Some types of fish may contain poisonous biotoxins even when cooked. Barracuda in particular should never be eaten. Other fish that may contain toxins include red snapper, grouper, amberjack, and sea bass.

All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs, defined as three or more loose stools in an 8-hour period or five or more loose stools in a 24-hour period, especially if accompanied by nausea, vomiting, cramps, fever or blood in the stool. Antibiotics which have been shown to be effective include ciprofloxacin (Cipro) , levofloxacin (Levaquin) , rifaximin (Xifaxan) , or azithromycin (Zithromax) . Either loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate (Lomotil) should be taken in addition to the antibiotic to reduce diarrhea and prevent dehydration.

Insect Tick Protection You can't Edit

Insect and Tick Protection

Wear long sleeves, long pants, hats and shoes (rather than sandals). For rural and forested areas, boots are preferable, with pants tucked in, to prevent tick bites. Apply insect repellents containing 25-50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) or 20% picaridin (Bayrepel) to exposed skin (but not to the eyes, mouth, or open wounds). DEET may also be applied to clothing. Products with a lower concentration of either repellent need to be repplied more frequently. Products with a higher concentration of DEET carry an increased risk of neurologic toxicity, especially in children, without any additional benefit. Do not use either DEET or picaridin on children less than two years of age. For additional protection, apply permethrin-containing compounds to clothing, shoes, and bed nets. Permethrin-treated clothing appears to have little toxicity. Don't sleep with the window open unless there is a screen. If sleeping outdoors or in an accommodation that allows entry of mosquitoes, use a bed net, preferably impregnated with insect repellent, with edges tucked in under the mattress. The mesh size should be less than 1.5 mm. If the sleeping area is not otherwise protected, use a mosquito coil, which fills the room with insecticide through the night. In rural or forested areas, perform a thorough tick check at the end of each day with the assistance of a friend or a full-length mirror. Ticks should be removed with tweezers, grasping the tick by the head. Many tick-borne illnesses can be prevented by prompt tick removal.

General Advice You can't Edit

General advice

Bring adequate supplies of all medications in their original containers, clearly labeled. Carry a signed, dated letter from the primary physician describing all medical conditions and listing all medications, including generic names. If carrying syringes or needles, be sure to carry a physician's letter documenting their medical necessity.Pack all medications in hand luggage. Carry a duplicate supply in the checked luggage. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring an extra pair. If you have significant allergies or chronic medical problems, wear a medical alert bracelet.

Make sure your health insurance covers you for medical expenses abroad. If not, supplemental insurance for overseas coverage, including possible evacuation, should be seriously considered. If illness occurs while abroad, medical expenses including evacuation may run to tens of thousands of dollars. For a list of travel insurance and air ambulance companies, go to Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad on the U.S. State Department website. Bring your insurance card, claim forms, and any other relevant insurance documents. Before departure, determine whether your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures. The Medicare and Medicaid programs do not pay for medical services outside the United States.

Pack a personal medical kit , customized for your trip (see description). Take appropriate measures to prevent motion sickness and jet lag , discussed elsewhere. On long flights, be sure to walk around the cabin, contract your leg muscles periodically, and drink plenty of fluids to prevent blood clots in the legs. For those at high risk for blood clots, consider wearing compression stockings.

Avoid contact with stray dogs and other animals. If an animal bites or scratches you, clean the wound with large amounts of soap and water and contact local health authorities immediately. Wear sun block regularly when needed. Use condoms for all sexual encounters. Ride only in motor vehicles with seat belts. Do not ride on motorcycles.

Ambulance You can't Edit

Ambulance and Emergency Services

For a public ambulance in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta, call 102 . For a private ambulance in Mumbai, call 1299 or 3090-6609 , or call P.D. Hinduja National Hospital at 2445-2575 . For a private ambulance in Kolkata, call Apollo Gleneagles Hospital at 1066 or Woodlands Medical Centre at 2456-7075 thru 7089 (cell 98300-82007, 98310-36686, 98302-90662).

For 24/7 emergency assistance, another option is to contact East West Rescue, which provides long-distance road ambulance as well as air ambulance services (website http://www.eastwestrescue.com; ph. 91-11-2469 8865, 91-11-2462 3738, 91-11-2469 9229, 91-11-2469 0429). East West Rescue has a network of physicians in over 100 Indian cities.

Medical Facilities You can't Edit

Medical facilities

Good medical care, sometimes meeting Western standards, is available in major cities, but facilities may be limited in rural areas. Many expatriates go to one of the following hospitals:

• Apollo Hospital (21, Greams Lane Off Greams Road, Chennai 600 006; tel. 91-044-28293333 / 28290200; website http://www.apollohospitals.com; accredited by the Joint Commission International)
• Apollo Hospital (Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad - 500033; tel. 91-40-23607777; website http://www.apollohyderabad.com; accredited by the Joint Commission International)
• Apollo Gleneagles Hospital (No. 58, Canal Circular Road, Kolkata – 700 054; tel. 91-033-2585208/2585217; website: http://www.apollogleneagles.com)
• Advanced Medical Research Institute (Amri Hospital) (P-4+5, C.I.T. Scheme-LXXII, Block-A, Gariahat Road (beside Dhakuria Bridge), Kolkata - 700 029; tel. 91-33-24612626; emergency and ambulance tel. 033 65500000; website http://www.amrihospital.com; includes 24-hour emergency and ambulance services)
• Woodlands Medical Centre (8/5 Alipore Road, Kolkata 700 027; tel. 2456-7075 to 2456-7089; cell 98300-82007, 98310-36686; http://www.woodlands-hosp.com)

Mohali (Punjab):

• Fortis Hospital (Sector 62, Phase - VIII, Mohali - 160 062, Punjab; tel. 91-172-5096222, 91-172-5096400, emergency tel. 91-172-5096700; website http://www.fortishealthcare.com/network_hospitals/fortis_mohali/fortis_mohali.html; includes 24-hour emergency room and 24-hour pharmacy; specializes in cardiac care)
• P.D. Hinduja National Hospital (Veer Savarkar Marg, Mahim, Mumbai 400 016; tel. 24447000, 24449199, 24451515, 24452222; website http://www.hindujahospital.com; member of the international networks of the Massachusetts General Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Hospital)
• Wockhardt Hospital (Mulund Goregaon Link Road, Mumbai 400078; tel. 91-22-67994444; emergency 91-22-67994155; website http://www.wockhardthospitals.net/general/mumbai.asp; includes cardiac specialty hospital; accredited by the Joint Commission International; associate hospital of Harvard Medical International)
• Asian Heart Institute (G/N Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai 400051; tel. 5698-6666; website http://www.ahirc.com; accredited by the Joint Commission International)

New Delhi area:

• Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals (Sarita Vihar, Mathura Road, New Delhi - 110 076; tel. 91-011 - 26925801/26925858, emergency tel. 91-11-26925900; ambulance tel. 26925900, 26925888; website http://www.apollohospdelhi.com; offers broad range of state-of-the art specialty services, including 24-hour emergency room; accredited by the Joint Commission International)
• Fortis Hospital Noida(B-22, Sector-62, Noida-201301, Uttar Pradesh, emergency tel. 91-120-2400444; website http://www.fortishealthcare.com/network_hospitals/fortis_noida/fortis_noida.html; includes 24-hour emergency room)
• Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital (Sector B, Pocket 1, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi- 110 070; tel. 91-11-4277 6222, emergency tel. 1800-11-7000 (Toll free), 011-26927000(Landline); website http://www.fortishealthcare.com/network_hospitals/fortis_vasantkunj/fortis_vasantkunj.html; includes 24-hour emergency room)
• Escorts Heart Institute And Research Centre (cardiac specialty hospital; Okhla Road, New Delhi - 110 025; tel. 91-11-26825000, 91-11-26825001; emergency 91-11-26825002, 91-11-26825003 ; ambulance 26825002, 26825003 or ext. 4000 / 4001 at 26825000 (Auto attendant) / 26825001 (operator) for booking; website http://www.ehirc.com/)
• Fortis La Femme Center for Women (OB-gyne specialty hospital; S-549 GK-II, New Delhi -110 049; tel. 91-11-4104 5104, emergency tel. 011-4104 5104; website www.fortislafemme.com)
• Christian Medical College (Ida Scudder Rd., Vellore; tel. 2222102, 2223603, 2222722, 2223977, 2225535, 2222716, 2262603, 2262903, 2262986, 2262520, 2262617, 2262618; website http://www.cmch-vellore.edu/; includes 24-hour emergency room)

In Calcutta, care for travel-related illnesses is provided by Wellesley Medicentre (Dr. Santanu Chatterjee, Wellesley Mansions, 44 A Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road (off Park Street), Calcutta 700 016; tel. 033 22299920 or 22293645; mobile: 9830166740). In Mumbai (Bombay), corporate health care is provided by Amas Medical Services (tel. 91 22 26425335, 91 22 67023861).

For a guide to other physicians and hospitals in India, go to the U.S. Consulate websites for New Delhi , Kolkata , Mumbai , and Chennai . For additional listings, go to the Government of Canada website.

Many doctors and hospitals will expect payment in cash, regardless of whether you have travel health insurance. Life-threatening medical problems may require air evacuation to a country with state-of-the-art medical facilities.

Pharmacies You can't Edit

For a list of pharmacies in New Delhi and Kolkata , go to the U.S. Consulate websites for those areas.

Blood Supply You can't Edit

Blood supply

Screening for HIV and hepatitis remains inadequate. In September 2011, an outbreak of HIV infections was reported among children who had received contaminated transfusions at a government-run hospital in the Junagadh district of Gujarat state between January and August 2011. In June 2011, it was announced that the blood from blood banks in Ludhiana city, Punjab state, was contaminated with hepatitis C. In August 2009, it was reported that adulterated blood contaminated with hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses was being sold for transfusions in Uttar Pradesh. In October 2006, it was reported that outdated blood screening kits had been sold to government clinics across India (see ProMED-mail , November 5, 2006, and August 31, 2009). Transfusions in India should be avoided if at all possible.

Travel with children You can't Edit

Traveling with children

Before you leave, make sure you have the names and contact information for physicians, clinics, and hospitals where you can obtain emergency medical care if needed (see the links under "Physicians and hospitals" above).

All children should be up-to-date on routine childhood immunizations, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics . Children who are 12 months or older should receive a total of 2 doses of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, separated by at least 28 days, before international travel. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 months should be given a single dose of measles vaccine. MMR vaccine may be given if measles vaccine is not available, though immunization against mumps and rubella is not necessary before age one unless visiting a country where an outbreak is in progress. Children less than one year of age may also need to receive other immunizations ahead of schedule (see the accelerated immunization schedule ).

The recommendations for malaria prophylaxis are the same for young children as for adults, except that (1) dosages are lower; and (2) doxycycline should be avoided. DEET-containing insect repellents are not advised for children under age two, so it's especially important to keep children in this age group well-covered to protect them from mosquito bites.

When traveling with young children, be particularly careful about what you allow them to eat and drink (see food and water precautions ), because diarrhea can be especially dangerous in this age group and because the vaccines for hepatitis A and typhoid fever , which are transmitted by contaminated food and water, are not approved for children under age two. Baby foods and cows' milk may not be available in developing nations. Only commercially bottled milk with a printed expiration date should be used. Young children should be kept well-hydrated and protected from the sun at all times.

Be sure to pack a medical kit when traveling with children. In addition to the items listed for adults, bring along plenty of disposable diapers, cream for diaper rash, oral replacement salts, and appropriate antibiotics for common childhood infections, such as middle ear infections.

Travel and pregnancy You can't Edit

Because of the risk of malaria , pregnant women should avoid traveling to India. Malaria may cause life-threatening illness in both the mother and the unborn child. None of the currently available prophylactic medications is 100% effective. Mefloquine (Lariam) is the drug of choice for malaria prophylaxis during pregnancy, but should not be given if possible in the first trimester. If travel to malarious areas is unavoidable, insect protection measures must be strictly followed at all times. The recommendations for DEET-containing insect repellents are the same for pregnant women as for other adults.

Strict attention to food and water precautions is especially important for the pregnant traveler because some infections, such as listeriosis, have grave consequences for the developing fetus. Additionally, many of the medications used to treat travelers' diarrhea may not be given during pregnancy. Quinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin), should not be given because of concern they might interfere with fetal joint development. Data are limited concerning trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, but the drug should probably be avoided during pregnancy, especially the first trimester. Options for treating travelers' diarrhea in pregnant women include azithromycin and third-generation cephalosporins. For symptomatic relief, the combination of kaolin and pectin (Kaopectate; Donnagel) appears to be safe, but loperamide (Imodium) should be used only when necessary. Adequate fluid intake is essential.

Maps You can't Edit

Helpful maps are available in the University of Texas Perry-Castaneda Map Collection and the United Nations map library. If you have the name of the town or city you'll be visiting and need to know which state or province it's in, you might find your answer in the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names .

Embassy You can't Edit

Embassy/Consulate Location

(reproduced from the U.S. State Dept. Consular Information Sheet )

U.S. citizens living in or visiting India are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or at one of the U.S. consulates in India. They may now also use the Department of States new Internet Based Registration System to register. To register online, please visit https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs.

-- The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shantipath, Chanakyapuri 110021; telephone (91)(11)2419-8000; fax (91)(11)2419-0017. The Embassy's Internet home page address is http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone (91)(22) 2363-3611; fax (91)(22) 2363-0350. Internet home page address is http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta (now often called Kolkata) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone (91)(33) 2282-3611 through 2282-3615; fax (91)(33)2282-2335. The Internet home page address is http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone (91) (44) 2811-2000; fax (91)(44)2811-2027. The Internet home page address is http://chennai.usconsulate.gov.

Safety Information You can't Edit

Safety information

For information on safety and security, go to the U.S. Department of State , United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office , Foreign Affairs Canada , and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade .

Black Market Organ Transplants You can't Edit

There is a market for organ transplants. MDtravelhealth regularly receives SPAM messages about this.

Here is a typical message:

 Dear Sir /Madam,

Do you want to sell your kidney? Are you seeking for an opportunity to sell your kidney for money due to financial break down and you don’t know what to do, then contact us today at APOLLO HOSPITAL and we shall offer you( $400,000USD) for your Kidney.

Our hospital is specialized in Kidney Surgery and we also deal with buying and transplantation of kidneys with a living an corresponding donor. We are located in India. If you are interested in selling or buying kidney’s please don’t hesitate to contact us via email:a******@gmail.com Dr.Nassan JOHNSON Best Regards:

Apollo Hospital

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These are scam messages, and patients are advised to contact reputable doctors and medical services to assist instead.  Most services offered via SPAM and other underhand methods are likely a scam and possibly even downright dangerous or deadly.

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• B H ROAD Full Details B H ROAD, NEAR MEENAKSHI BHAVAN, Bangalore-Shimoga Rd, Tank Mohalla, Shivamogga, Karnataka 577201, India Directions +91 96202 02263 http://www.ashokasanjeevini.com/
• Kids Orthopedic Full Details Kids Orthopedic Flat No. 3C, Suryaday Apartment,, Agnibina Sangha, Motilal Colony, Rajbari, Dum Dum,, Nalta, Rajbari, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal 700081, India Directions +91 90511 48463 http://kidsorthopedic.com/
• Srikiran Institute of Ophthalmology Full Details Srikiran Institute of Ophthalmology Penumarthy Road, Near Atchampeta Jn, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh 533005, India Directions +91 884 230 6301 http://srikiran.org/

Hotels near India

• Hotel Royal Regency Offering a free airport shuttle, Hotel Royal Regency operates a 24-hour front desk. Free Wi-Fi access is available. Cooled by fan or air condition, rooms here will provide you with a flat-screen cable TV, a seating area and desk.
• Sun-n-Sand Nagpur Sun-n-Sand Nagpur is 10-minutes away from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport and offers rooms with free Wi-Fi. It has a 24-hour coffee shop and outdoor pool.
• The Legend Inn @Nagpur Operating a 24-hour front desk to welcome guests, The Legend Inn @Nagpur is located just 1 km from the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur. Free WiFi access is available in the public areas of the property.
• The Pride Hotel, Nagpur Located 6 km away from Deeksha Bhoomi and Nagpur Museum at Civil Lines, Pride Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor pool and a fitness room. Free airport transfers are provided.
• The Majestic Manor The Majestic Manor is conveniently placed just 500 metres away from Nagpur Airport with free airport shuttle services. It offers a 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi access throughout the property.
• The Travotel Suites Offering a restaurant, The Travotel Suites is located in Khapri. Free WiFi access is available. Each room here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and a seating area.
• Hotel Adi Hotel Adi provides simple accommodation with modern amenities in Karve Nagar. It is located just 1 km from Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport and provides a free airport shuttle service, as well as, free internet acess.
• Gayatri Inn Annex Gayatri Inn Annex is located in Nagpur. Free WiFi access is available. Each room here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and a minibar. There is also an electric kettle.
• Hotel Gayatri Inn Hotel Gayatri Inn is located in Nagpur. Free Wi-Fi access is available. Rooms here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning, a seating area, heating and satellite channels. Featuring a shower, private bathrooms also come with free toiletries.
• B&B Serviced Apartments B&B Serviced Apartments is located in Nagpur. Free WiFi access is available. Each room here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and cable channels. Featuring a shower, private bathroom also comes with free toiletries.

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Accommodation near India

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• Hotel Sunrise N Resorts*** No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• Sri laxmi Gokul Complex Residency No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• Hotel Sai Residency Buldana No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• River Bay No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• Saee Youth Castle No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• Hotel Dev Residency No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• Lonikot Village retreat No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• 128 / 2 No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• Hotel Yatrik No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.
• Yamunavan Camps No info yet.. Please go to this page and enter some.

Related Questions

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Indian foreign ministry advises against travel to Iran, Israel

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Iran's foreign minister downplays drone attack, says Tehran investigating

Iran's foreign minister on Friday said Tehran was investigating an overnight attack on Iran, adding that so far a link to Israel had not been proven as he downplayed the strike.