LOW TYPHOID ENDEMIC LEVEL IN MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- The endemic level of typhoid fever in the country is very low and comparable with that of developed countries according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s standard, the Lower House of Parliament was told Wednesday.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Abdul Latif Ahmad said during a five year
period between 2003 and 2007, incidents of typhoid fever in the country were
less than five cases for every 100,000 people, while in 2007, the ratio was 1.27
case per 100,000 people.

WHO, in its 2004 bulletin, classified a low endemic level of typhoid fever
at less than 10 cases per 100,000 people, moderate (10 cases per 100,000 people)
and high (more than 100 cases per 100,000 people).

"This situation (incidents of typhoid fever in Malaysia) is far more better
compared with 20 years ago when typhoid incidents in the country exceeded 10
cases for every 100,000 people," he said in response to a question by Dr Mohd
Hatta Md Ramli, an opposition MP Wednesday.

However, Abdul Latif said typhoid fever was a problem in Kelantan and Sabah
with both states recording 72 percent of the cases reported in the
country.

He said typhoid was a water borne disease which could spread easily through
unhygienic practices.

Typhoid is monitored under the national notification system for infectious
diseases where medical officers should report cases on the disease to the Health
Ministry.

Abdul Latif said the ministry had inspected 384,701 food premises, at an
average of 76,940 premises every year, besides giving vaccination against
typhoid to food handlers.

Meanwhile, in another development, Abdul Latif, in reply to Mohd
Nasir Ibrahim Fikri, a ruling party MP), said the laws on cosmetology and
medical equipment were aimed to monitor premises and use of equipment at beauty
centres.

He said until July this year, the ministry had inspected 114 premises
involved in handling of cosmetic products and had seized products, worth
RM56,262 from 20 premises.