Malaysia

Travellers to Malaysia who are aged 5 years or older should also ensure they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Other diseases that are considered a risk in Malaysia include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, malaria and rabies. Your doctor will be able to let you know which vaccinations are recommended for you, based on the time of year, destination/s, activities planned and the duration of your stay. 

What your doctor will need to know:
•    When you plan to travel (time of year/season)
•    The duration of your trip 
•    The regions of Malaysia you are visiting 
•    Your planned activities (i.e. if you are going trekking or visiting remote and/or wilderness areas)
•    If you will be in contact with animals
•    If you are up-to-date with your routine vaccinations

Your doctor may also conduct a general health check-up. This may be needed for your travel insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

If you are not up-to-date with your routine vaccinations, or if your doctor believes you may be at an increased risk of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease, then they may recommend that you get a booster or be revaccinated against a particular disease. 
 

Malaria is spread by the bite of a particular type of mosquito. The best way to prevent malaria is to avoid mosquito bites altogether. Preventative measures you can take include protecting yourself with insect repellent, wearing clothes that cover your arms and legs, and staying in accommodation that has air conditioning, fly nets or screened windows provided.

In order to advise correctly, your doctor will need to know a little bit more detail around your travel plans, such as where you are travelling, the time of year and the activities you have planned. Visit your healthcare professional at least a month before travel to see if medication is needed for you.

Before travelling: 

• Register your trip with Smart Traveller 
• Make sure you have enough of your regular prescription medicines;
• Ensure you’re up-to-date with your routine vaccinations 
• Take out travel insurance - to cover you and your family for medical and other costs resulting from unexpected incidents and accidents
• Put together a travel kit with paracetamol and aspirin, diarrhoeal medicine, oral rehydration salts, antiseptic lotion or ointment, adhesive bandages and other wound dressings, insect repellent, sunscreen, latex gloves, thermometer, motion sickness medicine, water purification tablets and compression stockings

During travel: 

• The tap water is Malaysia is not safe to drink. It is advised that you drink bottled or filtered water only and check the plastic seal on bottled water is intact. Avoid adding ice to your drinks, and check that salad and fruit have been washed with filtered water prior to consumption. 
• Traveller's diarrhoea is common in Malaysia. Important ways to prevent traveller's diarrhoea include:
  • ensure you wash your hands with soap and water regularly.
  • Where possible, opt for fully cooked fresh food and only eat fruit that you peel yourself. 
• Avoid mosquito bites, as malaria is considered a risk to some travellers in Malaysia, particularly those visiting rural areas. Speak with your healthcare professional about whether or not you might need medication for malaria prior to your departure. You can further protect yourself with insect repellent, wearing clothes that cover your arms and legs, and staying in accommodation that has air conditioning, fly nets or screened windows provided.
• Rabies is a deadly disease and considered a risk in Malaysia. It is spread by the bite, lick or scratch of an infected animal, such as a dog or a monkey.  Avoid close contact with wild and domestic animals, this is especially important for children. Do not feed or play with monkeys or other animals. Vaccinations for rabies are available – your doctor can advise whether vaccinations are required for your trip.
• Use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, human papillomavirus, herpes, syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV. 
• Diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B can also be spread through fluids such as blood and semen. To protect yourself, do not inject drugs, do not share needles or devices that can break the skin including those used for tattooing, piercings or acupuncture. Vaccinations are available for hepatitis B.