If you're planning a long‑term relocation to India, addressing your health‑care needs should be a foundational part of your preparation. Travel‑medicine guidelines recommend visiting a health‑care provider 6–8 weeks before departure to review your medical history, assess itinerary‑specific risks, update routine vaccinations, and receive destination‑specific preventive advice.¹²

Health Considerations

Malaria

Malaria remains a regional and seasonal risk in India. Most urban centers present low risk; however, the states of Assam, Odisha, and certain districts of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh continue to report higher transmission levels where chemoprophylaxis is recommended. Current risk assessment varies by location, season, accommodation type, and trip duration.¹²

ABCD Malaria Prevention Framework

Widely used international travel‑medicine guidance recommends the ABCD model:

• A — Awareness of malaria risk based on region and season
• B — Bite prevention through long sleeves, long trousers, and DEET‑based repellents²
• C — Chemoprophylaxis such as Atovaquone/proguanil, Doxycycline, or Mefloquine for high‑risk areas
• D — Diagnosis: Any fever during travel or up to 1 year after exposure requires urgent evaluation for malaria¹²

Yellow Fever

India requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from all travelers over 6 months of age arriving from — or transiting through — WHO‑designated yellow‑fever‑risk countries in Africa and Latin America. Travelers without proof may be quarantined for six days.³⁴

Since 2016, WHO recognizes the yellow fever vaccine as valid for life, and booster doses are no longer required.⁴

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is common across urban and semi‑urban India, transmitted by daytime‑biting Aedes mosquitoes. There is no travel‑recommended vaccine for most travelers and no prophylactic medication, making bite prevention the only effective strategy.²⁴

Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis risk in India is extremely low, but the parasite is transmitted through freshwater exposure in certain global regions. Travelers should avoid swimming or wading in lakes, rivers, or untreated fresh water; chlorinated or seawater poses no risk.⁵

Altitude Sickness

Significant portions of northern India — including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Ladakh — lie at elevations above 2,500 m, where altitude illness becomes more likely.

Altitude Risk Levels

• High altitude: 1,500–3,500 m
• Very high: 3,500–5,500 m
• Extreme: >5,500 m

Major Altitude‑Related Conditions

• AMS: headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness
• HACE: confusion, ataxia — medical emergency
• HAPE: breathlessness at rest, cough, rapid pulse — medical emergency

Prevention

• Ascend gradually, limiting increases to ≤500 m/day above 3,000 m
• Schedule acclimatization days
• Monitor for symptoms and descend immediately if severe signs appear¹²

1. MinuteClinic. Travel Health Combined. ©2025 CVS Health. Internal clinical guidance including malaria, altitude, and pre‑travel risk‑assessment protocols.
2. Morgan, Elizabeth & Crawford, Saunsire. Travel Health. ©2019–2025 CVS Health. Malaria prophylaxis, bite‑prevention, and traveler‑risk protocols.
3. UK TravelHealthPro. “India: Country‑Specific Vaccine and Travel Advice.” https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/locations/india/#Vaccine_recommendations. Accessed January 15, 2026.
4. CDC Travelers’ Health. “India — Travel Recommendations.” https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/india. Accessed January 15, 2026.
5. FitForTravel NHS. “India: Travel Health Summary.” https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-east/india. Accessed January 15, 2026.