KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — Foreigners working illegally in the food industry are believed to be the source of the current surge in typhoid fever cases here, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya.

According to Hilmi, this was because the illegal workers do not undergo the compulsory medical screening or receive the mandatory inoculations that are part of work permit approval process.

“The problem may lie with illegal workers who are not screened and may be carriers of the disease,” he was quoted as saying by The Star on its website today.

“We are still investigating the source and carriers of the disease.”

Today, Hilmi acknowledged that the number of reported cases — 32 so far — were unusual, but declined to term it an outbreak of typhoid.

“We usually see one or two cases in and around the country, but there seems to be an increase here recently,” he was further quoted as saying.

Separately in The Star’s report, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will begin conducting inspections for illegal workers at eateries as well as unhygienic food preparation.

To date, 32 confirmed cases of typhoid have been reported in various parts of Kuala Lumpur, but no deaths have been recorded.

Typhoid fever is transmitted through food or drinks contaminated with Salmonella typhii, and symptoms usually arise between one and three weeks after infection. These include lethargy, fever, stomach aches, constipation, headaches, diarrhea and vomiting.

If left untreated, it could lead to complications such as bleeding and puncturing of the intestinal tract, brain inflammation, psychosis and other symptoms, or become a carrier without any symptoms.