KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 — A secondary school in Perak has been closed after 10 students reported positive for Influenza A (H1N1), the first school in the state.
National news wire Bernama reported today that Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan (Semesti) has been closed since Saturday, affecting the classes of the remaining 570 school students.
“All the infected students are now quarantined at their homes on the advice of their doctors and until they recover,” Bernama quoted Perak state Education director Dr Suhaimi Mohamed Ali as saying.
Berita Harian, on the other hand, reported that all students who board at the school hostel have been asked to return home.
The Bernama report said 28 people in four districts in Perak were infected with influenza, including H1N1, from January 9 to 12. These include the Bagan Datuk, where the Semesti school is, Kinta, Larut Matang, Selama, and Manjung districts.
Influenza, a viral infection caused by the seasonal influenza virus, causes mild fever and cold, but can lead to severe infections in high-risk groups, which include children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.
In Johor, 89 pre-school pupils and students up to Form Four suspected to have influenza were asked to rest at home, and Johor Mentri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal reportedly said a seven-year-old, who was speculated to have influenza, tested negative for the disease, and suffered from liver and kidney failure instead.
Nur Dinie Damia Muhammad Noor Ain, unfortunately, died last night at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru, The Star Online reported. Nur Dinie’s case had gone viral online.
Ten pupils were diagnosed in Pahang, but no schools or classes were closed, with Kuantan recording the most number of cases, followed by Cameron Highlands, while in Penang, 103 students in 52 primary and secondary schools in the state were infected with influenza as of yesterday. In Penang, no schools were closed, only two Year 2 classes at a Chinese school in Butterworth.
In Selangor, 231 cases of Influenza A and H1N1 involving 97 schools in eight districts were recorded in the state, with Klang recording the highest number of cases, followed by Petaling Perdana, and Petaling Utama. No classes or schools have been closed throughout Selangor.
The outbreak is reportedly under control in Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, with no cases recorded so far in Perlis, Negri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak, and Terengganu recording two disease clusters, including influenza, in nine patients.
