Food outlet owners must ensure workers given typhoid injection - Subramaniam

Owners of eateries and stalls must ensure their foreign workers are given typhoid injections to prevent the spread of the disease said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said based on the ministry's inspection, more than 30 percent of the employers who engage the services of foreign workers, have failed to ensure their workers are given injections to prevent typhoid.

"The injection is compulsory and a requirement that must be followed by those involved in the food industry. We have issued a warning but many have failed to abide. Action will be taken against them," he said at the MIC Supreme Council meeting, here today.

Dr Subramaniam also urged contractors, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Ministry of Housing and Local Government and other agencies involved to ensure cleanliness at construction sites, especially foreign workers' dormitory.

Meanwhile, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said no new typhoid fever cases were reported.

As at 2pm yesterday, the number of cases remained at 52 (Kuala Lumpur 37 and Selangor 15) since the outbreak in August.

However, only nine are undergoing treatment in Kuala Lumpur (5), Selangor (2) and on each in Kelantan and Kedah.

Dr Noor Hisham said since the outbreak was reported in Augusts, 304 premises were inspected and 31 ordered closed for lack of cleanliness while 16 were issued notices.