H1N1 Travel advisory

TRAVEL ADVISORY

INFLUENZA A (H1N1)

Since the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1), more than 8,000 people in 36 countries have been affected. Malaysia is now one of the 36 countries listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Influenza A (H1N1) has also caused more than 60 deaths. Of the 36 affected countries, more than 95 percent of reported cases came from 5 countries, namely the United States, Mexico, Canada, Spain and Britain. A significant portion of fatalities caused by the Influenza A (H1N1) originates from these 5 countries.

With the drastic spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its pandemic disease alert level to “Phase 5” signaling that a pandemic threat is imminent.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia wishes to advise that all Malaysians planning to travel overseas especially visits to the affected destinations to take extra precautionary measures by:

1. Deferring all non-essential travel to the affected destinations;

2. Postponing their travel plan to hardest hit places in the 5 above mentioned countries;

3. Consulting their physician for the seasonal flu vaccination, should overseas travel be necessary;

4. Obtaining the latest information on the outbreak and new affected destinations prior to departure;

5. Adhering to the local health guidelines including movement restrictions or preventive recommendations at their intended destination;

6. Avoiding contacts with affected persons;

7. Covering and protecting themselves with facial masks;

8. Ensuring personal hygiene with the regular use of detergent and water or alcohol based hand gel;

9. Contacting the local health authority when influenza like illness is suspected on oneself and as much as possible avoiding contact with other persons by confining themselves to their hotel room; and

10. Informing the nearest Malaysian Missions, their temporary address and contact numbers while abroad for facilitation of further assistance in times of need.

Contact numbers and addresses of Malaysian Missions are available at the

Ministry’s website www.kln.gov.my

Consular Division

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia

Putrajaya

17 May 2009