Dont panic, typhoid fever outbreak under control, vaccine sufficient - Dr Subramaniam

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam has advised the public not to panic over the outbreak of typhoid fever in the country, stressing that the outbreak is under control.

He said the vaccine for the fever is also sufficient.

“We are monitoring the situation especially in areas where foreign workers live,” he said after officiating the National QA Convention, today.

“Typhoid fever can be treated and we have sufficient vaccine to handle it,” he added.

However, he had stressed that the public must give importance to food cleanliness as the salmonella tyhpi bacteria can spread through unhygienic food.

On Monday, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said some 32 typhoid fever cases had been reported to the Kuala Lumpur Health Department up until October 18.

Titiwangsa had recorded the highest number of typhoid fever cases at 16, followed by Kepong (8), Lembah Pantai (4) and Cheras (4).

Dr Noor Hisham said the department had also received notifications of seven cases of typhoid fever among construction workers in Cheras in the first week of August, and two of the 10 contacts examined were tested positive and were given treatment.

Meanwhile, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said he had instructed the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s Licensing Department to monitor food outlets in a bid to contain the typhoid outbreak that has hit the city.

“If they fail to abide by the terms set by City Hall, we will revoke their business licenses,” he said when met at the Parliament lobby here today.