Hilmi: Leprosy among immigrants worrying

BALIK PULAU: Leprosy among immigrants who come to this country is a cause for worry for the government.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said leprosy cases among immigrants were traced three years ago.
"Although their number is small, it is still a problem for us," he told reporters after opening the "I Want Sihat" programme at Kampung Perlis Mosque grounds, here, today.
The programme was held in conjunction with the Penang World Health Day 2015 celebration, themed "Makanan Selamat - Dari Ladang ke Pinggan" (Safe Food - From the Farm to the Plate).
Dr Hilmi said besides leprosy, tuberculosis and HIV were among the most serious diseases brought in by foreign migrants.
"While Malaysians are free of leprosy, screening is done on all immigrants to ensure that they are free of diseases.

"If an immigrant is tested positive for tuberculosis, for example, we will treat him until he is cured and then send him home," he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Dr Hilmi said the issue of food safety needed serious attention because consuming unsafe food could lead to death.
"Food safety control has become so challenging as food production is extremely complex. Various sources of pollution must be controlled along the food supply chain from the raw materials until the food is served.
"Food safety control is important to ensure that unsafe food is not placed on the market and the source of pollution can be traced in advance, without affecting the overall food supply chain," he said. – Bernama