Malaysians Travelling To West Africa Advised To Take Precautions Against Ebola

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysians who wish to travel to West Africa have been advised to take precautionary measures to prevent from being infected with the Ebola virus (EVD). Health director general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said EVD was a deadly disease with a high fatality rate, and could infect humans and primates such as monkeys, as detected in three areas in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. "Early signs of the EVD are fever, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, lack of energy and weakness, vomitting and diarrhoea, rashes, and kidney and liver failure. "There were also cases of haemorrhage and the disease can lead to death," he said in a statement Thursday. He also advised the public to practise good hygiene such as washing their hands with soap and water or alternatively, hand sanitizer. "Avoid going near people who are sick including contact with body fluids of individuals infected with EVD, and houses or health facilities connected to the Ebola outbreak. "Avoid handling wild animals that are sick or have died, and they must return home quickly after visiting th affected countries; they must seek treatment immediately if they don't feel well and to inform the attending doctor of their travel history," he said. He said as at July 25, 2014, the World Health Organisation reported that 1,201 of the EVD cases were from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea in West Africa, involving 672 deaths. He said in Malaysia, notification of EVD was mandated under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988. "Even though there has not been any EVD notification in Malaysia, the ministry is constantly monitoring and in readiness for any potential incident. "This includes emphasising on health personnel at all levels including those assigned at the country's international entry points to carry out preventive and control measures," he said. --BERNAMA