Yellow fever: Get jab before visiting countries

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians planning to visit countries or areas where yellow fever transmission is present are advised to get the necessary vaccination beforehand.

In a statement yesterday, Health director-general Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said this was to ensure that Malaysia continued to be free from yellow fever.

He said the vaccination must be administered at least 10 days prior to departure to affected countries to ensure its effectiveness, and travellers who failed to produce proof of vaccination upon arrival could be quarantined for up to six days.

“So far, Malaysia is free of yellow fever although the Aedes Aegypti mosquito has been identified as a vector of the disease. The fatality rate for yellow fever can reach up to 50 per cent, and there is no specific treatment for it,” said Dr Hasan.

The World Health Organisation has listed 42 countries in Africa, South America and Central America where yellow fever vaccination is required.

These countries are Angola, Benin, Burkisa Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial-Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo and Uganda in Africa.

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela in South America and Central America.

Dr Hasan said the ministry recognised 19 yellow fever vaccination centres in the country which included the Institute for Medical Research Virus Research Division, Mont Kiara Medical City, KLCC; Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital (Prime Health Division) in Wangsa Maju; Putrajaya Health Clinic, Putrajaya; Prince Court Medical Centre in Jalan Kia Peng and Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Jalan Ampang, here.

The others are the Penang Port Health Office, Tuanku Syed Putra Building in Jalan Downing, Kinta Health Office, Batu Gajah; Columbia Asia Medical Centre, Miri, Sarawak; Health Office, Divisional Health Department, Kuching, Sarawak and the Beserah Community Polyclinic in Kuantan, Pahang. — Bernama