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59 students in Selangor quarantined
Thu, Apr 01, 2010
New Straits Times
By Annie Freeda Cruez
KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty-nine pupils of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil in Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, have been placed under home quarantine since Tuesday after 47 of them were found with influenza A (H1N1) symptoms and 12 with influenza-like illness.
They were confined to home after the school authorities alerted the district health department.
A throat swab taken from a pupil registered positive for influenza A.
Deputy director-general of Health Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said they were waiting for laboratory results to determine how many of the pupils had contracted the disease.
The school has 508 pupils.
Dr Hasan said those under home quarantine must strictly adhere to the advice given by the health authorities to prevent the spread of the disease.
They must minimise contact with family members and others in the house, besides covering their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, and washing their hands regularly with soap and water, and using hand sanitisers.
He said parents must monitor their children and take them to hospital if they have high fever or flu symptoms.
Other symptoms include fast breathing or breathing difficulties, bluish or grey skin colour, not drinking enough fluids, not urinating or not shedding tears when crying, severe or persistent vomiting, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion and flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and bad cough.
Dr Hasan said parents of other children in the school must also monitor their children for symptoms of the disease and take them to a doctor if they fell ill.
"Do not send children who are ill to school."
Children with H1N1 or influenza-like illness must rest and drink water, broth or sports drinks to keep themselves hydrated.
Asked if the school had been shut down, Dr Hasan said this was up to the headmaster.
On March 20, there were 385 people warded in 43 hospitals nationwide with influenza-like illness. Of the number, 30 had influenza A (H1N1).
From April last year to March 20, the number of confirmed H1N1 cases was 12,594. The death toll stood at 77.
The last H1N1 cluster case was reported last week involving nine participants at the CITRA skill and motivation programme organised by Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara in Pagoh, Muar, and at Kem Saujana Asahan Jasin in Malacca.
Dr Hasan said the new H1N1 cases showed that the virus was still spreading in the community although there were no indications of a second wave.
People in the high-risk group are advised to seek medical help immediately if they show symptoms of the disease. A delay in getting treatment can result in complications that may lead to fatality.
The symptoms of the disease are fever, particularly a fever of more than 100oF, although there have been cases where people did not have fever but were confirmed as positive for H1N1; sore throat; cough; chills and fatigue; body aches; headache; and, occasionally, vomiting and diarrhoea
Dr Hasan advised people in the high-risk group to get themselves vaccinated against the disease.
They can go to any of the 104 government health facilities for the vaccination.
Thu, Apr 01, 2010
New Straits Times
By Annie Freeda Cruez
KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty-nine pupils of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil in Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, have been placed under home quarantine since Tuesday after 47 of them were found with influenza A (H1N1) symptoms and 12 with influenza-like illness.
They were confined to home after the school authorities alerted the district health department.
A throat swab taken from a pupil registered positive for influenza A.
Deputy director-general of Health Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said they were waiting for laboratory results to determine how many of the pupils had contracted the disease.
The school has 508 pupils.
Dr Hasan said those under home quarantine must strictly adhere to the advice given by the health authorities to prevent the spread of the disease.
They must minimise contact with family members and others in the house, besides covering their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, and washing their hands regularly with soap and water, and using hand sanitisers.
He said parents must monitor their children and take them to hospital if they have high fever or flu symptoms.
Other symptoms include fast breathing or breathing difficulties, bluish or grey skin colour, not drinking enough fluids, not urinating or not shedding tears when crying, severe or persistent vomiting, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion and flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and bad cough.
Dr Hasan said parents of other children in the school must also monitor their children for symptoms of the disease and take them to a doctor if they fell ill.
"Do not send children who are ill to school."
Children with H1N1 or influenza-like illness must rest and drink water, broth or sports drinks to keep themselves hydrated.
Asked if the school had been shut down, Dr Hasan said this was up to the headmaster.
On March 20, there were 385 people warded in 43 hospitals nationwide with influenza-like illness. Of the number, 30 had influenza A (H1N1).
From April last year to March 20, the number of confirmed H1N1 cases was 12,594. The death toll stood at 77.
The last H1N1 cluster case was reported last week involving nine participants at the CITRA skill and motivation programme organised by Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara in Pagoh, Muar, and at Kem Saujana Asahan Jasin in Malacca.
Dr Hasan said the new H1N1 cases showed that the virus was still spreading in the community although there were no indications of a second wave.
People in the high-risk group are advised to seek medical help immediately if they show symptoms of the disease. A delay in getting treatment can result in complications that may lead to fatality.
The symptoms of the disease are fever, particularly a fever of more than 100oF, although there have been cases where people did not have fever but were confirmed as positive for H1N1; sore throat; cough; chills and fatigue; body aches; headache; and, occasionally, vomiting and diarrhoea
Dr Hasan advised people in the high-risk group to get themselves vaccinated against the disease.
They can go to any of the 104 government health facilities for the vaccination.
