Malaysia recorded 56 heat-related illness cases nationwide from Jan. 1 to May 3, 2026, including 2 deaths from heatstroke, the Health Ministry said. [1]
The fatal cases involved a 2-year-old child left in a vehicle and a 42-year-old man taking part in a marathon in Penang. Officials said both deaths happened when weather conditions were below Warning Level 1, but the people were exposed to extreme heat indoors or pushed through prolonged strenuous activity, which led to dehydration and failure to regulate body temperature. [1]
Of the 56 cases, 47 were heat exhaustion, 4 were exertional heat stroke, 4 were heat stroke and 1 was heat cramps. The ministry said 58% of the cases were linked to physical activity in hot weather, and nearly half involved sports such as cross-country events, sports training, marathons and other high-intensity training by security and operations teams. [1]
The Health Ministry advised people to limit strenuous activity and long exposure to heat, rest in the shade, drink plenty of water and wear protective clothing such as hats and umbrellas. It also urged government agencies, schools and care centres to put preventive measures in place when planning outdoor activities. [1]
The ministry said people should seek immediate treatment for dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps or extreme fatigue. [1]
