Get typhoid vaccination or risk license revocation, city council warns

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council has warned food stall operators that their licenses can be revoked if workers there have yet to receive their typhoid vaccination.
Its Public Health and Licensing committee chairman Ong Ah Teong said the council has step up checks at eateries to ensure compliance following an outbreak of typhoid fever in Kuala Lumpur.

He said operators risk facing escalating fines of up to RM80 if their workers did not get the jab which cost RM37.10 per shot.

Only workers who have gotten their typhoid shots can serve patrons he said, while noting that 90% of those currently serving food have had their jabs.

"Their licenses will be revoked if they fail to comply despite being fined," he told a press conference today.

Ong said the council and the Immigration Department conducted frequent checks to weed out those who did not comply.

"The number of people who took the vaccination on the island was 13,406 last year," he added.

Typhoid fever is caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi and is spread by eating food or water contaminated with excreta from an infected person with symptoms including abdominal pain, fever, headache and fatigue.

Later, Ong and other councillors distributed 1,200 packets of rice to council workers in conjunction with Deepavali.