Number of food, water-borne diseases on the decline

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Senator Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim

THERE is no increase in the number of food- and water-borne diseases between January and September this year compared with corresponding period last year, the Dewan Negara was told.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said among the food- and water-borne diseases monitored by the ministry were typhoid, cholera, Hepatitis A and food poisoning.

“The ministry has always monitor the situation involving food- and water-borne diseases,” she said in reply to Senator Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud in the Dewan Negara sitting here yesterday.

Rosnah said during the period, the number of typhoid cases dropped to 0.87 per cent from 0.92 per cent, while cholera declined to 0.79 per cent from 1.91 per cent from 100,000 population.

Meanwhile, the number of Hepatitis A cases also declined to 1.12 per cent from 1.36 per cent, while food poisoning cases dropped to 11,245 this year from 13,579 previously,” she said.

Rosnah said the quality of drinking water supplied by public water suppliers had also been monitored and there was no quality deterioration recorded between January and October this year. — Bernama