State Health, Welfare and Caring Society committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said 134 cases were reported between January and September. Only 54 cases were reported last year.

He said that 114 cases involved foreign workers and most were reported in Relau, Balik Pulau and Bukit Gambir.

Phee said: "It is difficult to treat the foreigners because they refuse to be admitted to hospitals for fear of being caught by immigration officers.

"It is also difficult to give follow up treatment because they keep moving from one place to another."

Phee also said that another problem was the reluctance of estate owners and orchard owners to cooperate by ensuring all their foreign workers were screened.