A total of 151 typhoid cases have been reported in Kelantan as of Oct 31 this year, an increase from only 35 cases reported in the same period last year.

Kelantan state health director Datuk Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mahir said the infection was believed to be caused by contaminated food and drink, besides the poor rate of treated water usage in the state.

He said the usage of treated water in the state was below 70 percent, but most of those who had the facility still chose to use water from wells, and investigations revealed that at least four wells were tested positive for the Salmonella Typhi bacteria.

"Preventive measures and control are in progress, including case detection, health education, food and water sample-taking including ice and inspections of premises. We have also chlorinated 119,000 wells as of Oct 31."

He said this at the Kelantan state-level Mega National Gotong-Royong programme officiated by Deputy Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah at Taman Transit Panji here yesterday.

Ahmad Razin said, however, the number of dengue cases in the state recorded a decline of 82 per cent, that is 2,410 cases from January to Nov 1 this year, compared to 13,594 cases in the same period last year, thanks to the initiatives taken by various parties under the National Blue Ocean Strategy.