KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — A total of 9,777 cases of food poisoning were reported from January to September this year, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya.

From the total, 6,795 cases involved schools under the Education Ministry, Defence Ministry, MARA, private sector and state governments.

Of the 6,795 cases, 5,185 food poisoning cases involved schools under the Education Ministry,” he told the Dewan Rakyat here today.

He was replying to a question from Datuk Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (BN-Tanah Merah).

He said the Health Ministry was always monitoring and carrying out routine checks at each school and canteen premises to inspect the level of cleanliness to curb cases of food poisoning.

Dr Hilmi said the ministry also held food-handling courses for food handlers and they were required to have anti-typhoid vaccination every three years. — Bernama