H1N1:PRIMARY SCHOOL AND POLYTECHNIC IN PENANG ORDERED CLOSE
PENANG, July 26 (Bernama) -- A primary school and a polytechnic 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 influenza A (H1N1). State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee Chairman Phee Boon Poh said they were Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (SRJK) Aik Keow in Teluk Air Tawar and the Seberang Perai Polytechnic in Permatang Pauh, near here.
"The Health Ministry has ordered their closure after 16 students from the school and 36 students from the polytechnic 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.
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PENANG-H1N1 2 (LAST) PENANG
Until yesterday, 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.
Meanwhile 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.
He said two schools in Sarawak were still closed because of the H1N1 infection and they were Sekolah Menengah Kerajaan (SMK) Kubong and SMK Patiabun in Limbang, adding that the SMK Agama Limbang and SM Sains Kuching were re-opened last week.
--BERNAMA
EIY AZM MIS
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