Health officials Monday warned drivers in the first India-ASEAN car rally to be on guard against mosquitoes and show maximum discretion as the rally route is a high risk HIV/AIDS zone.

"A stretch in northeast India, the Shan province of Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia are all malaria endemic areas and hence all participants were put on chloroquine tablets as a preventive measure," a health official trailing the rally told IANS. 

The nearly 250 participants were given vital tips ahead of the rally being flagged off Monday by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Guwahati, the main city in Assam. 

"Wear long sleeves clothing and long trousers and apply insect repellents to exposed skin," the official said while briefing drivers.

"Use mosquito nets at night over beds, with edges tucked under the mattress."

Participants were also advised to drink bottled water to prevent waterborne diseases. And the list of medical tips did not end there. 

"The rally route passes through high risk HIV zones and you all must show maximum discretion," the official said.

There will be two trauma ambulances accompanying the rally that is to cover a distance of 8,000 km passing through eight countries, touching several cities in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and Laos before winding up at Batam in Indonesia Dec 11.

The medical team will comprise a cardiologist, trauma injury specialist, general physicians and anaesthetists. 

The Philippines is the only ASEAN country that has not sent a team to the rally.

All the cars participating in the rally have been provided by India and are mostly from Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra. Brunei is the only participant that has sent its own cars - three Toyota Land Cruisers.

--Indo-Asian News Service