KOTA BARU: Five students from a secondary school here have been diagnosed with typhoid.

Kelantan Health Department director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said another 17 students are being screened in isolation rooms at Tumpat Hospital and Tengku Anis Hospital in Pasir Puteh.

He said since June 20, the Kota Baru district health office has been screening school staff and students who are experiencing symptoms.

“Symptoms of typhoid include fever, diarrhoea, stomach ache, vomiting, nausea, constipation, headache, fatigue and lack of appetite,” he told Bernama on Tuesday (July 2).

Dr Zaini said typhoid is a type of contagious disease caused by a bacterial infection of the digestive tract, namely salmonella typhi.

He said the life-threatening bacterial infection spreads through several ways such as ingestion of food or drink contaminated with faeces containing the bacteria (due to poor sanitation or hygiene).

“Therefore, I request that if there are staff or students who have symptoms of the disease, they are asked to immediately inform the school management for a health clinic assessment.

“Any questions can be sent to the Kota Baru health office via WhatsApp at 013-978 3378 or its epidemiology health officer at 019-308 6126,” he said. – Bernama