Eight sporadic cases in Penang this year

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Health Department has recorded eight cases of typhoid this year.

Its director Datuk Dr Zailan Adnan said of the eight cases, two involved foreigners while the remaining six were locals.

“The typhoid cases reported in Penang so far were sporadic. All the cases were reported at different places and times.

“When there is a case reported, contact tracing will be carried out. Active contact tracings did not find related cases, thus, the cases were not linked to one another,” she said yesterday.

Dr Zailan said prevention work is on-going, especially the inspection of food premises for hygiene levels, with or without outbreaks.

“Our advice to the public is to make sure that they eat food that is well-cooked and freshly prepared.

“Make sure they drink only boiled or bottled water. Most importantly, they should practise proper toilet hygiene and wash hands after using the toilet and before meals.”

Dr Zailan also advised those having signs and symptoms of typhoid such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and fever to seek early medical treatment.

Penang Island City Council Public Health Standing Committee alternate chairman Ong Ah Teong said that the council was stepping up inspection of food premises from once a week to twice a week.

“Since 2012, it is compulsory for food handlers and food operators to receive typhoid vaccination which can last for three years.

“Food operators and handlers who fail to get the vaccination are liable to a RM30 compound per person, under the council’s anti-typhoid by-law,” he said, adding that there were about 20,000 to 30,000 food operators and handlers in Penang.