Travel Safety and Malaria Risks in India

As one of the biggest killers in the world, Malaria is something that everyone should take into account when traveling to more exotic locations across the globe.
One destination that many people overlook as a possible malaria threat is India.
While many parts are not as affected – if at all – by the problem, certain areas of this beautiful country could pose a major health risk without the right protection.
Here we explore traveling safety and malaria risks in India.

Malarone Malaria Tablets

Travelers should consider Malarone Malaria Tablets if heading to particular hotspots of culture, including Goa, Calcutta and Nagpur.
All three are listed as a “variable risk”, meaning that anti-malarials are usually advised.
However, those intrepid travellers hoping to experience Assam and Mizoram – the states that form the backbone of the Seven Sister States in the north-east of the country – are at a high risk of malaria and must take malarone to stay safe.

Before heading out to India, consider taking a short trial course of antimalarial tablets. This will help you find out if you have any side effects or reactions to the medicine; if you do, you will be able to address the issue with alternative antimalarials.

Cure for Malaria

Naturally, prevention is better than the cure with malaria. The disease can be treated using the same antimalarial medicines taken to prevent it, though if preventive anti-malarial supplements have been taken, you should not get the same one to treat it.
Your doctor will check recent advice and recommend the right treatment, should you come down with this debilitating problem; treatment for malaria can leave a person feeling particularly fatigued and weak for a couple of months.

However, if you are pregnant, you should completely avoid travelling to countries with a risk of malaria, so a trip to India may be ruled out if you are having a child. Pregnant women are more likely to develop severe malaria, making it more dangerous for both them and their baby.