PUTRAJAYA, Dec 8 – The typhoid outbreak reported in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor has ended as no new cases were reported after Oct 20, according to Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. He said since it began in August, a total of 71 cases of typhoid fever and no deaths were reported.
“The risk factors identified to have caused the outbreak were filthy food premises and unhygienic food handlers, not attending food preparation courses and workers not getting typhoid vaccinations. 906 food premises were inspected during the outbreak and of the total, 327 were ordered to be closed under the Food Act 1983 and the Food Regulations 1985,” he said in a statement here Monday.
Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said the number of food handlers inspected were 3,324, with 617 of them found to have not been vaccinated for typhoid. He said 49 compound were issued to food outlets found to have hired food handlers who had not been vaccinated. He added that the ministry would also like to remind the public to pay attention to food cleanliness to avoid contracting typhoid and other food and water borne disease.
