Health Precautions for Rajasthan in February

ghs

I am travelling from the UK as a tourist to Delhi, Agra and the usual larger cities in Rajasthan next month.
I have had the recommended innoculations and am taking a course of anti-malaria tablets. Do I need to consider anything else? I was thinking of taking a malaria net and a small first aid kit.

As a first time visitor, any advice would be gratefully received.

Mickey S

Rajasthan is not considered to be an "at risk" area for malaria. (Take a look at this map). On my first trip there I took anti-malarials but on my most recent trips I did not. I don't think I even saw a single mosquito during the entire trip, so I don't think a net will be necessary.

There is some danger of malaria in Delhi and Agra but it is not significant and you should be okay with just insect repellant and long sleeves.

SteamBuff

No I would not bother with a mozzi net ... just take some anti-mozzi spray/cream with you.

I am going to Assam, Calcutta and West Bengal (Siliguri/Darjelling) in March and I won't be taking a net. (I will be taking anti-maleria tabs though - Malarone)

It is always useful to carry a smail first aid kit with you.

Dave from near Maldon in Essex.

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karuna

I feel compelled to complete the Essex/Wales/Essex/Wales posting...

If you're staying in middleish hotels I would not worry about mossies too much. I did see them in hotels in Bikaner and Jaisalmer, that was in December. There weren't too many and burning a coil dealt with them.

Mossies love me- I get bitten to shreds 2 minutes out of the airport even when slathered in DEET and wearing a burka (well, not quite, but wearing Sensible Attire). So careful!

Nick-H

If mosies like you, they will bite you.

Myths worth repeating (or rather debunking)...

1. Clothes protect you. They bite through light clothing, at least.

2. They are active around dawn and dusk. That's not a myth; it just fails to mention the rest of the day. They are active all day, if disturbed, or they just happen to be up, and the night-flying ones have a special burst of hungry activity at around midnight to 1.00am. There are day-flying species, some of which spread diseases other than malaria.

3. They don't like Air Conditioning. They love AC: if I want to catch one I just put the net up over our bed, with the AC on, and it comes and sits in the cool draft.

4. They can't land if the fan is on. Yes, they can, and bite. Well, maybe not if the fan is full on, but there's no way I can sleep in that draught and noise.

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IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)