The number of typhoid cases in the country — traced so far to eateries in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor — have risen to 52.
The Star Online quotes health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah as saying that KL recorded 37 cases while Selangor had 15.
Dr Noor Hisham had said that nine patients are still being treated at government hospitals in the Klang Valley as well as in Kedah and Kelantan.
“Until now, there are no typhoid fever cases reported in other states, including those with history of eating in Kuala Lumpur,” he said in a statement.
The typhoid outbreak reportedly began in August and since then, enforcement officers have checked 304 eateries; 31 were told to close while 16 others were issued compound notices for going against the Food Hygiene Regulation 2009.
“Food handlers must be vaccinated against typhoid fever, and must undergo food handling training at the training centres approved by the ministry,” Dr Noor Hisham was quoted as saying.
The Malaysian Insider’s Noel Achariam reports that since Oct 21, the City Hall’s Health and Environment Department has ordered the shut down of 142 food outlets. The report said several of these eateries were located in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Jalan Duta, Ampang, Wisma Central, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Masjid India and Jalan Mega Mendung.
“If we find foreigners operating or cooking at the hawker stalls, we will immediately shut them down. Foreigners are allowed to work in restaurants provided they adhere to City Hall’s guidelines, such as getting a typhoid vaccination, wearing an apron and proper headgear,” DBKL’s Health and Environment director Dr Hayati Abdullah told TMI.
Image credit: The Star Online
Reader Interactions