Malaysia

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• Borneo (Indonesian border), Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Perak and Pahang (outside cities) are infected with malaria. Strains are highly resistant to chloroquine (zone 3).
• Other diseases transmitted by mosquitos (dengue fever...) are present in the afore-mentioned areas. Dengue fever is endemic in urban areas, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang. A dengue outbreak has been hitting Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan and Johor since June 2008. A chikungunya outbreak has also hit the country in April 2008.
• Malaysia is hit by the current avian flu epizootic.
• The state of Sarawak, in eastern Malaysia, is regularly hit by foot-and-mouth-disease outbreaks. This animal disease is highly catching may affect human beings, particularly children.
• Cases of "Nipah" virus, Japanese encephalitis and cholera are also regularly observed.
• Malaysia is regularly under a strong atmospheric pollution due to smokes ("Haze").
• There are cases of animal rabies in the country.
• Diarrheic diseases are common.

FOOD SAFETY

• Gastric diseases are common among tourists who are not accustomed to local food or who do not take precautions.
• Do not drink tap water and favor bottled mineral water, without ice ; avoid eating ice cream and sherbet.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked dishes, especially meat or fish. If possible, order hot dishes.
• Bring anti-diarrhea medication with you.
• Wash your hands carefully before each meal.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND MEDICATION

• Travellers entering the country from an endemic area, or who have been to an endemic area less than 6 days before entering the country, are required to present a certificate of immunization against yellow fever.
Systematically:
• Hepatitis A: the vaccination is available for children at least one year old. For persons who were born before 1945, who have spent their childhood in a developing country or who have had an icterus, it may prove useful to search previously for serous antibodies in order to avoid an unnecessary shot.
• Hepatitis B: the vaccination is available for children at least two months old.
• Diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis: get a booster shot before leaving if your last shot is more than ten years old.



Depending on the duration and conditions of the trip:
• Typhoid fever: if the stay is occurring in precarious hygiene condition. The immunization is available for children at least 2 years old.
• Rabies: recommended for long stays in isolation. The immunization should be given to children as soon as they are able to walk.
• Japanese encephalitis: for stays longer than a month in rural areas during the rain season. The immunization is available for children at least one year old.
• Tuberculosis: in case of a long stay, it is recommended to have children immunized against tuberculosis as soon as they reach the age of one month, and against mumps, measles and rubella when they reach the age of nine months.
• Recommended chemoprophylaxis against malaria (outside urban or coastal areas): mefloquine (commercial name: Lariam) or doxycycline (commercial name: Doxypalu).

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

Kuala Lumpur
• Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, 282 & 286 Jalan Ampang: phone +60 3 4257 1300, fax + 60 3 4257 9233
• Damai Service Hospital, 115-119 Jalan Ipoh: phone + 60 3 4043 4900, fax + 60 3 4043 5399



Selangor
• Subang Jaya Medical Centre, 1 Jalan SS12/1A, 47500 Subang Jaya: phone + 60 3 734 1212, fax + 60 3 730 6075



Penang
• Gleneagles Medical Centre Penang, 1 Jalan Pangkor: phone + 60 4 227 6111/0711, fax + 60 4 226 2994
• Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim, George Town: phone + 60 4 657 1888, fax + 60 4 657 0940



Perak
• Kinta Medical Center, 20 Jalan Chung Thye Phin, Ipoh: phone + 60 5 254 2166, fax + 60 5 254 3264
• Fatimah Hospital, Jalan Dato' Lau Pak Khuan, Ipoh Garden, Ipoh: phone + 60 5 545 5777, + 60 5 547 7050

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 994
• Police / ambulances : 999

CLIMATE

• Climate is equatorial, hot and humid all year long. Rains are regular all year long and may be violent.
• Thunderstorms are particularly important from August to November on the western coast, and are often accompanied by violent winds.
• From December to February, the eastern coast is particularly rainy and often experiments floods.
• Sea temperature is 28°C all year long.
• When to go: between March and July.