Updated 22 June 2009, 5.22pm
KUALA LUMPUR, 22 June 2009: The Health Ministry has ordered a temporary closure of Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Assunta 2 in Petaling Jaya after one of its pupils was tested positive for Influenza A(H1N1), making it the second school to have to close due to the disease.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the ministry had also asked Seri Cempaka International School, Batu 9 Cheras in Selangor, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seksyen 9 Shah Alam, and Sekolah Menengah Damansara Utama in Petaling Jaya to stop a class each.
Yesterday, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina SJK (C) Jalan Davidson in Kuala Lumpur, and a class at the Sekolah Menengah Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur were told to close following the detection of local transmissions of the flu.
Ismail said the closure of the schools and the three classes would be for a week, in line with the protocol set by the national inter-ministerial committee set up to handle Influenza A(H1N1).
He said parents of pupils and students in the school and classes concerned should ensure that their children stayed at home and not venture into public places.
“Parents and family members of those under house quarantine can go about their daily lives; however, parents and family members of those tested positive for the virus should undergo house quarantine,” he said.
As of 9pm yesterday, there were 58 confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in the country.
In SHAH ALAM, State Executive Councillor for Health, Estate Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Dr A Xavier Jayakumar said the Selangor government has instructed all district offices to set up action committees to counter any A(H1N1) outbreak in the state.
He said the committee, chaired by the respective district officers, had been briefed by state health department officials on the necessary precautions to be taken during an outbreak.
“The main task of the committee will be to take all the necessary steps to curb the spread of the virus. The committee will rope in health officers and local authorities to give proper coverage in their respective areas in case of an outbreak,” Xavier told reporters here today.
Three confirmed A(H1N1) cases involving school students have been reported in Selangor: a 14-year-old student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Damansara Utama, who is the brother of the Year Five SRK Assunta 2 pupil who was confirmed a H1N1 victim yesterday; as well as a Form Four student of Sekolah Menengah Section 9, Shah Alam. — Bernama
