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Travel Health Advisory

Darjeeling, India

Source Authority

CDC Travelers' Health

Vaccines and Medicines

Expert Verified

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please seeYour COVID-19 Vaccinationfor more information.

Chikungunya

There iselevated chikungunya riskin India.Chikungunya vaccinationmay be considered for people traveling or moving to this location if they are planning to stay for an extended period of time (for example, 6 months or more).

Cholera

Cholera ispresumed to be presentin India. Cholera is rare in travelers.Certain factorsmay increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease (more information). Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera.Vaccination may be considered for children and adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to India.Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.Travelers allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, are immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to India. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to India.

Japanese Encephalitis

Recommended for travelers whoAre moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to liveSpend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitisFrequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitisConsider vaccination for travelersSpending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed netsGoing to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be thereNot recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of India take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.Transmission areasThroughout the country, including the cities of Bombay (Mumbai) and New Delhi (the capital)No malaria transmission in areas >2,000 m (>6,500 ft) elevation, which include areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Ladakh, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, or UttarakhandDrug resistanceChloroquineSpeciesP. falciparum(60%)P. vivax(40%)P. malariaeandP. ovale(rare)Recommended chemoprophylaxisAtovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine2Updated April 23, 2025See footnotes

Measles

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according toCDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

Rabies

Dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in India.Rabies is also present in some terrestrial wildlife species.If rabies exposures occur while in India, rabies vaccines are typically available throughout most of the country.Rabies pre-exposure vaccination considerations include whether travelers 1) will be performing occupational or recreational activities that increase risk for exposure to potentially rabid animals and 2) might have difficulty getting prompt access to safe post-exposure prophylaxis.Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel.For more information, seecountry rabies status assessments.

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Yellow Fever

MANDATORY / REQUIRED

CDC recommendations:Vaccine isnotrecommended.Country entry requirements:Direct travel from United States: Vaccine isnotrequired.Travel from countries with risk for YF virus transmission (see list of countries below as specified by India): Vaccine isrequiredfor travelers ≥9 months old, and any traveler ≥9 months old arriving by air or by sea without a YF vaccination certificate will be detained in isolation for ≤6 days if they:Arrive within 6 days of leaving an area with risk for YF virus transmission, orHave been in such an area in transit (exception: passengers and members of flight crews who, while in transit through an airport in an area with risk for YF virus transmission, remained in the airport during their entire stay and the health officer agrees to such an exemption), orArrive on a ship that started from or touched at any port in an area with risk for YF virus transmission ≤30 days before its arrival in India, unless such a ship has been disinsected in accordance with the procedure recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), orArrive on an aircraft that has been in an area with risk for YF virus transmission and has not been disinsected in accordance with the Indian Aircraft Public Health Rules, 1954, or as recommended by WHO.The following countries are regarded by the Government of India as areas with risk for YF virus transmission.Africa:Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, UgandaAmericas:Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago (Trinidad only), VenezuelaNote: When a case of YF is reported from any country, the Government of India regards that country as an area with risk for YF virus transmission and adds it to the above list.Updated April 23, 2025

Non-Vaccine Diseases

Leptospirosis

Avoid contaminated water and soilAvoid floodwater

Melioidosis

Avoid floodwater and contact with soil or muddy water, particularly after heavy rainsBandage open wounds, cuts, or burns to protect them from coming into contact with soil or water

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever

Avoid bug bites

Dengue

Avoid bug bites

Leishmaniasis

Avoid bug bites

Zika

Avoid bug bites

Hantavirus

Avoid rodents and areas where they liveAvoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

Avoid sick people

Antimicrobial-resistant (AR) Ringworm

Keep skin clean and dry.Do not share bedding, towels, or clothes.If you a develop a rash while traveling:Avoid touching the infected area so it does not spread to other parts of your body.Consult a healthcare provider for treatment and testing.Avoid steroid creams, as they can make the ringworm worse.Use prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC) antifungals exactly as directed and contact a healthcare provider if treatment is not working.Topical antifungals and oral terbinafine are frequently ineffective against AR ringworm.

General Travel Advice

  • Be up to date on routine vaccinations.
  • See a doctor 4-6 weeks before travel.
  • Carry a small first-aid kit.

"The information on this page is for general awareness. Please seek professional medical help for your specific travel needs."