India Risks
 

I am considering a trip to Rishikesh for a visit to the Parmarth Niketan ashram. The CDC and State Dept. warnings are scary. Is a course of Malaria drugs really needed? I can handle the other innoculations but this Malaria business..I don't know. Terriost warnings, bad drivers, etc. How concerned, health and safety-wise should one be?

You need to do what makes YOU feel comfortable. I have been to Southern India 2times. Spent 3+ months traveling all over India and I did not do any shots nor did i take anti-malaria drugs. I ate street food and never got sick. I would recommend a vegetarian diet while you are there. In regards to being safe, you need to be safe and cautious in ANY country you visit including your own. It is definitely a different way of life than what i am used to in the states; however, i found the people to be warm and friendly and I never felt unsafe. HOWEVER, just like visiting any country, respect is definitely important. hope this helps and good luck.

I'm not sure what is so frightening to you about taking anti-malarials. There are a number of drugs that are effective in that area, including two that have relatively few side effects, doxycycline and malarone.

allure may have done fine without innoculations, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it. Note that you need to make sure that your polio immunizationn is up to date as there have been recent outbreaks in India.

Do consult with a travel medicine or tropical medicine doc.

The CDC warnings are more scary than need be and most of the vaccinations are entirely unnecessary. However, I am Indian born in the U.S., have been to India over 7 times for 3 month trips in my life, and WOULD NEVER go to India without taking malaria medicine. That is the one immunization that, in my opinion, is absolutely essential. We had a family friend who never took malaria medication because she had lived in India for 20+ years, visited India once a year, etc. She went to India one summer, returned to the U.S., had contracted malaria, and the doctors in the U.S. could not figure out what was wrong with her because U.S. doctors rarely handle malaria cases. I don't say this to scare you but I just want you to know that going without malaria medication is a lot like going to Mexico and drinking tap water --- there are many people who don't get sick, but in my opinion, it's better to be safe than sorry. With regard to terrorist warnings and bad drivers, I don't think it's any worse than living in the U.S (plus you won't be driving --- always hire a driver in India, they are very cheap and you are supporting the Indian economy). India is a beautiful country with an amazing heritage and culture and I highly recommend going there. Also, I don't think it is essential to be vegetarian --- my husband ate meat in restaurants throughout India and never got sick.

Go ahead and take the malaria drugs if you really are concerned about it. Bad drivers - no worse than Rome or Naples. Terrorist warnings..if you'd visit New York, you can visit Delhi - its about as safe. I've lived in Bombay for 27 years. There's a lot to see and enjoy in the country, esp in Rishikesh, so I'd suggest you make the trip, taking the usual health precautions i.e. being careful about drinking water and where you eat.

Thank you for your responses. I have to laugh at my fearful self as I lived in New York City for years, lost a friend in the WTC yet NYC is still my second home. May be the case of the devil you know, as they say, or I may just be getting old and nervous. I was most concerned about the emotinonal/anxiety provoking side effects of the Malaria meds but I see that some do not cause these problems. I will continue to seriously consider making the trip to this amazing place.

We have taken Malarone for many of our trips. Neither myself nor my husband have had any side effects...No emotional or physical side effects. If you have ever seen anyone with malaria you would know a few side effects from a drug are nothing in comparision. Have a great trip and stop the worring!