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Health insurance is recommended. Hospitals are found in all the main cities
and can deal with all major needs. Private hospitals, some managed and
staffed by British-trained doctors and nurses, provide a high standard of
medical care and include Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur and
Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, Sunway Medical center, Pantai Medical
center, Subang Medical Center, Selangor. Smaller towns and rural areas have
private clinics. In an emergency, dial 999 or 994.
1:
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one
year of age coming from infected areas.
2:
Following
WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate
is not a condition of entry to Malaysia, although it may be required if
travelling on to a cholera-infected country. See the Health appendix.
3:
Malaria risk exists only in certain isolated inland regions. Urban and
coastal areas are safe, with the exception being Sabah where there is a
risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, throughout the year.
The falciparum strain is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and
resistant to sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine.
4:
All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used
for drinking or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise
sterilised. Some milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or
tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is
reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have
been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably
served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables
should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Note:
It is generally considered safe to drink water straight from the tap;
however, as no authority is absolutely clear on this matter the above advice
is included as it reflects the necessity for caution for visitors who are
unused to the Malaysian way of life.
Rabies is present. For those at
high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are
bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the
Health appendix.
Hepatitis A and E occur and
hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Epidemics of dengue fever and Japanese
encephalitis can occur in both urban and rural areas.
Immunisation against tetanus,
diphtheria, hepatitis A and E is recommended.
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