H1N1: SIX SCHOOLS, TEACHING INSTITUTE CLOSED THURSDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- Measures to control the spread of
influenza A(H1N1) are being further intensified with six schools and a teaching
institute asked to close today after students were found to have contracted
Influenza A (H1N1) or influenza-like illness (ILI) at them.

Four schools in east coast state of Pahang were ordered to remain shut until
Aug 7.

Pahang Education Department director Abdul Aziz Abdul Latif said the action
was taken after checks conducted by the Health Department found eight students
from the schools were positive for H1N1.
One school and a teaching Institute in northern state of PENANG were also
closed due to the virus, bringing the total number of institutes closed in the
state to 22 so far.

Penang Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman
Phee Boon Pooh said their immediate closure was taken as a precautionary measure
to curb the illness spreading to other students.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that 11 National
Service (NS) camps in the peninsula were ordered to close for a week as some
trainees had shown signs of ILI.

National Service Training Department (JLKN) director-general Abdul Hadi
Awang Kechil said the closure involved 2,478 trainees after 450 were detected
with ILI.

There are 83 NS camps nationwide.

"The trainees showed signs of ILI infection after returning from a four-day
break starting July 24, after which the number of those infected increased,"
Abdul Hadi told reporters after visiting the NS camp near here Thursday.

He said according to the Health Ministry, it was normal procedure to order
the closure of a facility if five per cent of the occupants showed fever
symptoms and recorded body temperature over 38 degrees Celcius.

He said all trainees were required to report themselves to their respective
camps once the closure period was over, except for those given exemptions by a
government medical officer.

Visits to NS camps by parents and families were still allowed, but not
encouraged, while officers, trainers, management and staff who travel to and
from the camps had been asked to ensure they were in good health, he said.

Regarding the NS camp in Temasya Rimba Templer near hear, Abdul Hadi said so
far 38 trainees had experienced fever, but only six recorded temperatures of 38
degrees Celcius.

The camp is now being monitored by the Health Department, he added.

Meanwhile, Director-General of Health Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the total
number of influenza A(H1N1) infections in Malaysia had reached 1,302 cases,
including four deaths.

Of that number, 574 (44 per cent) were imported cases and 728 (56 per cent)
were local infectionS.

"From this, 1,272 cases (98 per cent) have recovered, while 19 cases (1 per
cent) are still receiving antiviral treatment in hospitals while seven patients
had been placed in intensive care units (ICUs). Another 11 cases are receiving
antiviral treatment at home," he said.

In northern city of ALOR SETAR, 123 male students of the Medical Assistants
College have been quarantined at the Alor Setar Medical Centre for a week
starting Thursday, after complaining of fever and sore throat.

However, they had not been confirmed of being infected by H1N1, said Kedah
Deputy Director of Health Dr Shahidan Hashim.

The college's management has been directed to postpone all recreational and
educational activities as well as make it compulsory for students and staff to
wear masks.

Meanwhile, East Malaysia state of SARAWAK recorded another 14 new positive
Influenza A (H1N1) cases Thursday, bringing the total tally to 116 so far in the
state.

However there were no new closures of schools or institutions since
Wednesday, according to a statement from the State Operations Room at in Petra
Jaya.

The statement said that the new cases were in Miri (10) and Samarahan (four)
while of the positive cases warded in hospitals, including four in the city of
Kuching and two in the city of Miri, the number remained the same.

In East Malaysia state of SABAH, 10 schools had been asked to close so far
due to influenza A (H1N1), said state deputy director of health Dr. Yusof
Ibrahim.

He said the state had recorded over 200 individuals positive for the virus,
but there had been no fatalities thus far.
-- BERNAMA