South Asia

India

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arthropodborne diseases:

• Malaria
• Leishmaniasis
• Filariasis
• Dengue fever
• Japanese encephalitis
• Plague
• Relapsing fever

We recommend:

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

Water- and foodborne diseases:

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

Other diseases:

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies

Vaccination recommended:

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

Stay healthy:

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

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