Of late, the weather has been hot and dry in the country. But come Monday (March 21), you are specially advised to stay indoors and drink more water. It is the day of the spring equinox.

Disease Control Department director Dr Ramlee Rahmat told Bernama that people should avoid hot areas.

"If they feel hot, they should consume more fluids. If there is a need, people can take a bath to cool down their body.

"If possible, stay indoors during the hot spell. Good ventilation is also important to keep the body cool," he said.

The spring equinox on Monday, when the sun is directly over the Equator, might result in excessive heat causing blackout of vision, nausea or heatstroke, but Ramlee said only those exposed to heat continuously for a long period of time would experience such symptoms.

Autumn equinox on Sept 23

He said those who experienced such symptoms should be given ample ventilation and should be admitted to hospitals to avoid further complications such as oxygen-deprivation which might lead to damaged organs.

The spring equinox falls around March 21 and the autumnal equinox around Sept 23, the dates varying during leap years.

Meteorological Services Department Director-General Chow Kok Kee was quoted by the media as saying that Malaysia would not experience any significant temperature change during the equinox as the country is already located near the Equator.