Public toilets must be kept clean to prevent spread of typhoid fever

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall health and environment department has reminded petrol station and food store owners to keep their washrooms and toilets clean.

Its director, Dr Hayati Abdullah, said this was because the virulent Salmonella thypi (S. thypi) bacteria, the main cause of typhoid fever, might spread through the faeces and urine of infected people.

She said ensuring cleanliness of public toilets, getting typhoid vaccination and observing hygienic food handling were important in curbing the spread of the disease.

"If an infected person uses a toilet and it was left it uncleaned, the bacteria can infect the next person who uses the toilet.

"Furthermore, if the toilet is dirty it will definitely attract flies, and the flies will be infected with the disease and eventually the disease will spread to nearby food stalls," she said.

In view of this, she said City Hall had stepped up efforts to check on cleanliness at food premises and toilets at petrol stations in the capital.

According to City Hall advisory board member Datuk P. Gunaseelan, who leads the operations, since Oct 21 to date, 175 food premises had been ordered to close temporarily for not complying with health regulations.

He said during the period, the team had inspected over 500 food outlets and 1,506 food handlers, of whom 353 were found to have not been vaccinated against typhoid.

As of yesterday, 38 cases of typhoid fever were recorded in the capital.

According to the Health Ministry website, a person with typhoid fever may suffer intestinal bleeding and fatal hemorrhage may occur.