Medicines and precautions on short-term business trip to India
I'm going for a one week long business trip to India (Mumbai city only). I'm from Poland / Europe, if that matters. My trip is about to start within next week or two, so I was told, that taking any vaccines is a bad idea, as they can do more harm to me, than I can benefit from them.
Are there any non-vaccine medicines (pills?), that I can or should take? I've heard, that I should consider taking anti-malaria tablets.
I've also heard a separate opinion, that Mumbai is the most "European" of all India cities and states, and when travelling only there and only for a short term, I don't need to consider a lot of health issues. Can this be confirmed by someone?
Are there any non-medicine, general precaution advises, that I should keep in my mind? 95% of my time spent in India / Mumbai I'll be travelling between hotel, client's office and airport, if that matters.
Best Answer
Malaria is not an extremely serious concern in Mumbai, especially if you are only going to be there a week, and the thin protection that anti-malarials give you isn't really worth the nausea they deliver much more reliably.
My recommendation for anywhere that isn't an actual swamp is DEET, a effective, long-acting insect repellent. It chases away malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquitoes and many other biting and stinging insects.
The problem is, for various reasons, DEET is not available inside India, you have to bring your own. In tropical countries other than India you can buy it at any corner shop; in temperate countries, you have to go to sporting-goods stores. I like 100% DEET formulations but if your skin is at all sensitive, buy the 25% bottle (the 7% is a waste of time, imo). Pump-spray or cream is better than powder. Put it in a plastic bag before you put it in your luggage, in case of leaks.
As Kolappan Nathan says, don't drink the water. Actually, that's probably good advice whenever you leave your home country -- you are well-adapted to the flora in your native water, but less so to foreign germs -- but it's especially true in India, where much of the water supply is contaminated with fecal matter and worse.
And bring some Imodium or buy it as soon as you land. Mumbai is the gastroenteritis capital of the universe, and you do not want to be limping to the chemist's shop after it strikes.
Pictures about "Medicines and precautions on short-term business trip to India"
Do I need any vaccinations for India?
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.What medicine should I pack for a trip?
Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve headaches, pain, fever, and simple sprains or strains. Antihistamines to relieve allergies. Antacid medicine. Antinausea or motion sickness medicine (You may also want to include medicine for altitude sickness if traveling to high altitudes.)Do we need Covid test before Travelling to India?
As of 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, 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.Is vaccine mandatory for travel in India by train?
A senior administration official said the mandate expires Sunday at 12:01 a.m. EDT, saying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that it's no longer necessary.Medical Tourism Facilitator Business - How to Start, Run and Manage Business - Dr Prem Masterclass
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Andrea Piacquadio, Pixabay, Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio