Ebola travel advisory for Malaysians
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have been urged to avoid travelling to Western African countries which are seeing a widespread Ebola Virus Disease epidemic.
In a travel advisory issued yesterday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Malaysians had been urged to avoid travelling to Sierra Leone, the Republic of Guinea and Liberia.
They have also been reminded to be extra cautious when travelling to other parts of the region.
“However, for those who have to travel to the aforementioned countries, it is advisable to adhere to guidelines provided by the Health Ministry in its recent press statements.
“This is a precautionary measure and to minimise the risk of infection.
“This advisory will be in force until further notice.”
It also stated that in the event of an emergency in any of the listed countries, the Malaysian Embassy in the Republic of Guinea can be contacted at 00(224)622354050 or 00(224)622667879, or via email atmwconakry@kln.gov.my.
The embassy is located at P.O. Box 5460 Conakry, Mafanco, Corniche Sud, Republic of Guinea.
On Monday, the World Health Organisation said that the Ebola epidemic in Western
Africa had claimed over 1,000 lives since March.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry yesterday dismissed claims that there were Ebola cases in Malaysia.
Its director-general, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, said the information and photographs being shared on social media of a child who was alleged to have contracted Ebola were false and misleading.
“The report being circulated on social
media sites, including Facebook, that an Ebola case has been detected in the country is
false.”
He cautioned the public not to spread such rumours which will easily cause panic among the public.
“It is an irresponsible act,” Dr Noor Hisham said on Facebook.
He reassured that there were no patients who were quarantined for the disease.
“The risk of Ebola into Malaysia is low. Don’t spread false news.”
Social media users had been sharing a photograph of a child with large blisters on both feet as it was claimed it was caused by the Ebola virus.
The information shared also included that the child had followed family members to a shopping mall here, before falling ill and was later diagnosed to be infected with Ebola.
The New Straits Times managed to get hold of the child’s mother and she denied it was her child’s photograph.
“No, my family have not been quarantined,” added the mother who wished to remain anonymous.
Ebola is a haemorrhage fever, often fatal to humans and other primates, such as monkeys.
