Materia Medica Malaysiana

Get your shots first, doc tells volunteers

Malaysian volunteers heading to tsunami-hit areas are urged to get vaccinated against diseases like malaria and cholera prior to departure.
Hospital Kuala Lumpur emergency department head Datuk Dr Abu Hassan Asaari Abdullah said the present situation in Aceh was critical and health workers would be exposed to potential diseases as there were about decomposing 80,000 bodies.
“In Aceh, there is no clean supply of water and no proper infrastructure. We are worried that many Malaysians will rush there without the proper knowledge or preparation to face such situations,” he said yesterday.
Dr Abu Hassan said vaccinations were recommended against diseases such as meningitis, typhoid, and Hepatitis A and B. Anti-tetanus injections are also necessary to prevent infections from cuts or lacerations.