India is a tropical country and many foreigners are not used to its environment. You may have already heard about heat, dust, rain, poverty, pollution, etc., and wondered about
your capacity to cope with all that. Paying attention to the facts relevant to south India (India is a big country), and recounting the experiences of our past foreign visitors, we
offer the following information.

Immunisations

       Malaria: It is spread by Anopheles mosquito bites. Prescription antimalerial drugs are easily available. They would have to be taken every week, from 1 week before
       your travel to India till 4 weeks after. Mosquito repellants are easily available and widely used in India. Odomos is a popular cream, and hotels provide electrical
       gadgets with mosquito repellant mats.
       Diarrhea and upset stomach: Keep some over-the-counter medicines handy, like Pepto-Bismol and Zantac (anti-acid). They can take care of most troubles.
       Typhoid: This is a water-borne bacterial disease. Vaccines (in the form of injections or capsules) are available, which should be taken at least 2 weeks before travel.
       Hepatitis-A: This is a viral disease affecting liver function, transmitted by contaminated food and water. Safe and effective vaccines are available (HAVRIX from
       SmithKline Beecham or VAQTA from Merck & Co.). The vaccines require two doses, the second one 6-12 months after the first. Travelers are considered protected 1
       month after the first dose. Instead of the vaccine, a single dose of immune globuline (IG) is also a possibility, for travels less than 3 months.

Above medical advice is in agreement with the two most refered sources, CDC and WHO. Their web links to health information for travellers to the Indian subcontinent are

       Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta, USA.
       World Health Organisation.

Please note that these sites also list additional immunisations, which in our opinion are global and not India-specific (e.g. tetanus and hepatitis-B). You may consider them,
but we do not think that you will need them just for your trip to India. Please consult your doctor to get the advice that will give you satisfaction. If you carry prescription drugs
with you, you should also find out about the side effects of the drugs, e.g. peculiar taste in mouth or reduced alertness are more often caused by taking too many medicines
than by contracting a disease. Contraindications of drugs for pregnant women and small children should never be ignored.

Food and water

Foreigners sometimes have trouble with Indian food and water. Good Indian hotels have learnt over the years to offer a safe and varied fare to suit different palates. We list
some simple precautions which usually allow even the most sensitive stomachs to survive in India without problems for weeks.

It is always advisable to eat warm food in a clean environment. Indian food is very diverse, and different from what most foreigners are familiar with even after eating in Indian
restaurants abroad. It is tasty, spicy, rich, and people tend to overeat. As a result, an upset stomach is more often a case of the digestive system being unable to handle
unusual food, than a case of food poisoning. You will have to decide not only what to eat, but also how much to eat.

Thick skinned fruits (e.g. bananas and oranges) are safe to eat anywhere. Seafood, away from coastal cities, is not always fresh, and should be always eaten in moderation.

Bottled water available in the shops is essentially safe drinking water, even if it carries a mineral water label. There are many brands, Bisleri is a popular one. You should
always make sure that the seal on the cap is intact. Tender coconut water available on the streetside is safe, provided you carry around clean straws, and is cheaper than the
bottled water available in the shops.

Sunglasses and sunscreen lotions would be helpful if you are planning a lot of outdoor travel.

Please note that most medicines are freely available in India at a much cheaper rate than in western countries. But you should know their chemical names (instead of their
brand names) to be able to find them.

WE WILL PROVIDE 24-HOUR MEDICAL CONSULTATION DURING THE SYMPOSIUM.