FIRST MALAYSIAN SCHOOL CLOSED DUE TO INFLUENZA A H1N1 VIRUS

PUTRAJAYA, June 22 (Bernama) -- Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC)
Jalan Davidson (a Chinese-based primary school) in Kuala Lumpur became the first
school to be closed due to the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Deputy Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education
Minister, said the closure of the school for a week was made known to him by
Health Minister, Liow Tiong Lai, Sunday afternoon.

According to him the move follows a decision made at a meeting of the
National Security Council (NSC) last week.

"We have agreed to take action following set protocol after the meeting a
few days ago. This is necessary to avoid the spread of the virus.

"Eventhough just one student was infected but she got the virus from another
Malaysian and had infected two other pupils so the action by the Health Ministry
to close the school was proper," Muhyiddin told reporters at a news conference
after the final of the Prime Minister Deprtment's Rowing Competition at the
Water Sports Complex here Sunday.


He said this when asked to comment on the closure of the school following
local transmission of the virus among pupils.

Muhyiddin said besides quarantining the affected pupils the school will
be
closly monitored for the period of closure.

"If the situation is better the school will be opened after a week. We
cannot prevent this situation from happening. Eventhough I do not want the
education of the pupils being disrupted but their safety must be given priority.
Lets not wait until more pupils are infected as it would be too late then," he
said.

He said all parents are asked to understand the action taken and give their
cooperation to the school authorities to ensure every things proceeded smmothly.

Asked if the NSC would order the closure of two schools in Selangor
following similar incidents, Muhyiddin said there was no need for the council to
do so yet.

"The situation is under control for the two schools and we are monitoring
the situation. For now all prevention steps are being taken," he said.

A Year Five pupil of Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Assunta 2 in Petaling Jaya (a
primary school)
and a Form Four student of Sekolah Menengah Shah Alam (Shah Alam Secondary
School) are among eight new cases
of H1N1 reported Sunday.

Muhyiddin also rejected the possibility of having screening of all students
before they enter school premises as is being done in Singapore.

He said that step was considered drastic and could lead to unbridled worry
among the local population, especially parents.

"Eventhough we view this seriously, we want everything to be done in a
proper and ordely manner, not ignite unnecessary worry by going to all schools
and screen all students...there are more than five million students.



"I feel the Health Ministry knows better what it should do based on cases
received. That is sufficient," he said.

The Health Ministry, he stressed, did not propose to impose restirctions or
prohibitions on students visiting affected countries although they were advised
to postpone their journeys until the situation was fully normal.

"They should avoid the affected countries but till now we have not issued
any prohibition. If we do it would lead to other problems," he said.

-- BERNAMA