Selasa, 22 Disember 2009

A ( H1N1 ) SCHOOL IN PENANG CLOSED DOWN

GEORGE TOWN: A primary school in the state have been

ordered to be closed for a week beginning today after some of their students are found to have been infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee Chairman Phee Boon Poh said the closed institutions were SRJK (C) Aik Keow in Teluk Air Tawar.

"The Health Ministry has ordered their closure after 16 students from the school are found to have been infected by the H1N1 virus," he said when contacted here.

He said those who were infected by H1N1 were being placed under quarantine and that they were in stable condition.

"We advised them to abide by the quarantine regulations and the public should not be unduly worried because preventive measures have been taken," he added. As at Saturday, the number of accumulated H1N1 cases nationwide was 1,021, comprising 573 (56 per cent) imported cases and 448 (44 per cent) locally transmitted cases.

In KUCHING, Sarawak Education director Dr Julaihi Bujang said he would discuss with the state health department to consider its action in ordering the closure of schools, especially residential schools in rural areas, because of H1N1.

He believed that closing the schools was not a solution to contain the spread of the virus and suggested that students infected with the H1N1 virus be quarantined, instead of sending all the students home because the move would affect their studies.

"Our concern is that when the schools are closed, students return to their villages, and there is a possibility of them (students) spreading the virus in their villages and if this happens, it will be difficult to contain as the villages are in the interior areas," he added.