Good news for all travelers to Malacca Malaysia: as of today the Malaysian Government declared Malacca free from meningitis!
And since the Malaysian government was announcing the good news, they also added that Malacca is Swine flu, Mexican flu, or Influenza A H1N1 free. What’s in a name…
This statement made today comes one week after the last three remaining trainees, out of the 41 trainees from the Road Transport Departments training academy in Tiang Dua warded at the Malacca Hospital, were discharged.
With it, the general quarantine imposed at the training academy in Tiang Dua on about 450 others was lifted as well.
A 45-year-old Japanese expatriate working in Malacca who was placed under home quarantine on Monday was found negative for the H1N1 virus.
He was one of the 76 passengers who traveled from Newark in New Jersey, United States of America on board MH091 to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. This airplane carried the 2 first Malaysians confirmed with H1N1 virus after visiting the US.
Health measures to take when on vacation in Malaysia
When you are a westerner who escaped cold Europe to enjoy warm Malaysia, there are 2 health hazards to protect you from:
1. Use sun protection all the time everywhere
The sun in Malaysia is not the same as in Europe, Here in Malaysia the sun is right above you and even the best sun-lotion you brought from Belgium won’t protect you much. Go to any pharmacy or find in any shop of your hotel:
- sun lotion with the highest protection factor possible (SPF 30 or above)
- use sun lotion when you snorkel or better: also wear a t-shirt
- “banana boat” Aloe Vera lotion: a green lotion that does miracles once you get sunburned
2. Kill any zebra mosquito you see
A bigger than normal mosquito striped like a zebra: the aedes mosquito can give you chikungunya disease or the more deadly dengue fever. Both fevers start with flu and headache symptoms, but especially dengue makes you feel lethargic within a week of having the symptoms.
Don’t be brave, go and see a hospital at once and have a blood-sample taken.
Do not panic!
- aedes mosquitoes don’t like mosquito repellent
- I already survived 2 dengue fevers, yet managed to be in hospital on time twice
- aedes mosquitoes don’t fly between 9 am and 17 pm (although I already noticed some dengue mosquitoes that don’t carry a watch).
Compared to Australia or the US where deadly spiders can crawl into your bed, Malaysia is a very safe and sound country.
The chance that during your holiday in Malaysia you get ran over by a motorbike is much higher than you leaving Malaysia with a disease.
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