Health risks

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.

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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)

Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt infants under 1 year.

Recommended immunisations: *diphtheria, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *Japanese B encephalitis, *malaria, *polio, *TB, tetanus, typhoid * recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: malaria risk exists only in limited concentrations in the deep interior. Urban and coastal areas are free from malaria except Sabah where there is risk all year. Rabies.

Blood transfusion & tissue transplantation risk according to UK BTS:

Malaria: Yes, All year in Taman Negara National Park provinces of Sabah and Sarawak (on the island of Borneo)
Maliaria Risk Category: C
Trypanasoma Cruzi Risk: No
Sub Saharan Africa: No
West Nile Virus Risk: No
Chikungunya Virus Risk: No

Yellow fever vaccination requirements and recommendations and malaria situation in Malaysia
Food and Water Safety
HIV Risk
Check travelers health risks by CDC before, after and while traveling to Malaysia and prevention before arrival at Malaysia.

Travel data, health safety, warnings and recommendations for Canadian who willing to visit Malaysia