South East Asia

Malaysia

Malaysia is a federal parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. Its population of approximately 22.7 million is ethnically divided into Malay (47 percent), Chinese (26 percent), Indian (7 percent), other indigenous (10 percent), and other ethnic groups (10 percent). Islam is the national religion. Bahasa Malaysia is the official language although English is widely spoken. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur.

CRIME: Violent crime, particularly against foreigners, is not common in Malaysia. Foreigners are often the target of pickpocketing, burglaries, automobile break-ins and purse snatchings referred to as "snatch-thefts," in which the assailants on motorcycles or in cars snatch purses, cell phones, and other items from pedestrians and speed off.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical facilities and services are adequate in the larger cities where Western-trained doctors can easily be found. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services although major credit cards are acceptable.

Arthropodborne diseases:

• Dengue fever
• Filariasis
• Japanese enchephalitis
• Malaria

We recommend:

• Usage of long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects
• Usage og insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%–35% strength for adults and 6%–10% for children. Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
• Usage of a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin.
• Staying and sleeping in air-conditioned houses

Water- and foodborne diseases:

• Amoebiasis
• Cholera
• ETEC (E.coli)
• Giardiasis
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis E
• Typhoid fever

Other diseases:

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies

Vaccinations recommended:

• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
• Hepatitis B or immune globulin
• Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
• Typhoid vaccination is particularly important because of the presence of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in this region.
• A booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within the last 10 years.
• Japanese encephalitis, only if you plan to visit rural areas for 4 weeks or more
• Yellow fever, when entering from a yellow fever endemic region.

Stay healthy:

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Drink only boiled water, or water and carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans
• Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it
• Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
• Prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot
• Do not travel at night
• Trafic accidents are frequent, be careful
• Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
• Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.
• Use malaria prophlaxis in the form of chloroquine and proguanil in risk areas (chloroquine resistance)
  

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