PRECAUTION AGAINST YELLOW FEVER DISEASE

Yellow Fever is an acute infectious disease that presents a major public health threat in endemic zones of Africa and South America where the virus continues to reappear even after long periods of quiescence. The agent which causes Yellow Fever is a mosquito-borne virus of the family Flaviviridae. Humans may acquire Yellow Fever from the bite of an infected mosquito in the jungle and spread the disease to villages or urban areas where they may be fed upon by domestic species of mosquitoes, especially the Aedes aegypti which is carrier of the virus.

Malaysia is taking strong precautionary measures against the introduction of Yellow Fever as Malaysia is vulnerable and receptive to Yellow Fever transmission by people who have not had proper immunisation against the disease. Vector surveillance is carried out in all ports and airports to ensure that they are free from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from all Malaysians going to / through and visitors coming from / through Yellow Fever endemic countries. They are required to bring along their Yellow Fever vaccination certificates, which must be valid. A vaccination certificate against Yellow Fever disease will be valid if the vaccination is taken at least 10 days prior to the date of arrival to Malaysia and the validity of the vaccination is for a period of 10 years. This requirement also applies to those who had visited these Yellow Fever endemic countries within one week prior to arrival in Malaysia. In accordance with article 68 of the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organisation, a person without a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate shall be quarantined upon arrival in Malaysia.

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