Is Malaysia Safe from the Ebola Virus?
Since the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus in Africa in February 2014, many were clueless about the effect of the virus and carried on normally with life as normal.
Since July 2014, the outbreak of the virus had caused a worldwide stir as a record number of deaths has shocked the world.
The international media went all frenzy covering this epidemic and many countries put on alert about the Ebola virus.
Does Malaysia Have The Ebola Virus?
The country is on full alert about this and all ports of entries have been on stand by with monitoring of everyone coming into Malaysia.
Below is also a compilation on news reports about the Ebola Virus in Malaysia from various publications;
Latest News 16 Sept 2014:
No Ebola virus case in Malaysia, says Health DG
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today confirmed that there is no Ebola virus case in Malaysia.
However, he gave his assurance that the Health Department will monitor closely for the virus and that the people need not panic following the report that a foreign student at a private institution of higher learning is being quarantined at the Sarawak General Hospital (HUS).
Noor Hisham said the student from Zimbabwe was already in Malaysia since February and was quarantined for fever, sore throat and cough since Sept 13. “This is a standard operating procedure where hospital staff are taking precautions.
“The student has no history of international travel records or came into contact with an Ebola patient in the past 21 days before showing the symptoms,” he said today…. – Read more from The Sun Daily.
No cases of Ebola reported in Malaysia
Health director-general Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah today confirmed that there is no Ebola virus case in Malaysia.
However, he gave his assurance that the Health Department will monitor closely for the virus and that the people need not panic following the report that a foreign student at a private institution of higher learning is being quarantined at the Sarawak General Hospital (HUS).
Noor Hisham said the student from Zimbabwe was already in Malaysia since February and was quarantined for fever, sore throat and cough since Sept 13. “This is a standard operating procedure where hospital staff is taking precautions.
“The student has no history of international travel records or came into contact with an Ebola patient in the past 21 days before showing the symptoms,” he said today.
Confirming this late Tuesday, Health director-general Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah censured those spreading such rumors as irresponsible, saying there had been no quarantine cases related to the disease.
“The risk of Ebola into Malaysia is very low. Don’t spread the news that is false,” he said through Twitter. Read more from The Star.
Doctors who come across Ebola cases or its symptoms – vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, liver, and kidney failure – must notify the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC). Read more from The Sun Daily.
- The Ebola Virus Disease is a severe illness with a 90% fatality rate
- It is transmitted via body fluids
- There is currently no cure for this deadly virus
- The Ebola Outbreak was first reported in Guinea, Africa in February 2014
- It then spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia where up to 1,711 cases have been reported as of August 6th, 2014
- The Ebola Outbreak in West Africa caused a worldwide stir on 25 July after an American man with the symptoms traveled on two flights and he died five days later
- Malaysia has yet to receive an EVD notification, but the Health Ministry is constantly monitoring for possible Ebola Cases entering Malaysia
- Malaysia has a system for information exchange between the country’s major airports, ports, hospitals, and laboratories in the event of a public health emergency for the Ebola Virus
Dr. H. Krishna Kumar, President of the MMA, stated that the fastest way for the disease to spread was through international flights.
“As there are no direct flights between Malaysia and the affected states, we are indirectly safe.”
He added that Malaysian flights flew from several international hubs across the world meaning that the risk is still present, while noting that flights from developed nations with more stringent health facilities were likely to be significantly safer than their counterparts in less developed countries.
The disease typically begins displaying basic symptoms between 2 to 21 days, which can include:
- Fever
- Throat and muscle pains
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Liver and kidney failure
- Internal and external bleeding
![]() |
Ebola screening is done at the airports. |
Malaysia is still safe from the deadly Ebola virus as there are no direct flights between Malaysia and the affected countries, said Malaysian Medical Association president Dr. H. Krishna Kumar.
The current 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which started in March, is considered one of the most severe, affecting Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Fortunately, all these cases have tested negative for Ebola so far, with the exception of a Liberian national who died in Lagos, Nigeria, after traveling there from his home country.
Early signs of the EVD are fever, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, lack of energy and weakness, vomiting and diarrhea, rashes, kidney as well as liver failure.
He also advised the public to practice good hygiene such as washing their hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer.
“Avoid going near people who are sick including having contact with bodily fluids of individuals infected with EVD, and houses or health facilities connected to the Ebola outbreak.
They must seek treatment immediately if they don’t feel well and to inform the attending doctor of their travel history,” Dr. Noor said. Read more from The Star.
![]() |
Dr. S Subramaniam from the Malaysia Health Ministry |
The Institute for Medical Research (IMR) has a laboratory is equipped with the necessary equipment to detect the EVD virus while all government hospitals in the country have the facilities to quarantine and treat Ebola patients.
CRSM also wishes to suggest that the Health Ministry needs to step up measures and to spell out detailed prevention and containment plans in case an outbreak were to happen here.
In addition, health advisory posters should also be displayed clearly at all entry points to the country including seaports and land borders. Read more from Malaysia Kini.
Final Thoughts About Malaysia Being Safe From The Ebola Virus
We have our health ministries on full alert and also all entry points on standby to screen everyone coming into Malaysia.
This has been a compilation of news articles just for those asking Is Malaysia Safe from the Ebola Virus?
Share this content:
Post Comment