ID :
71684
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 10:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/71684
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UNIVERSITY CAMPUS CLOSED AS STUDENTS HAVE INFLUENZA-LIKE SYMPTOMS
IPOH (Malaysia), July 23 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry has ordered the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Seri Iskandar, near this northerm city, to be closed for one week from Wednesday due to the sudden increase in the number of students to 280 from 55 on Tuesday with influenza-like symptoms.
State Health, Local Government, Environment, Public Transportation and
Consumer and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman, Dr Mah Hang Soon, said
the urgent measure was taken to prevent the illness from spreading to other
areas nearby.
"Although the directive is immediate, we are giving UiTM until tomorrow to
vacate the campus which has more than 12,000 students, staff and lecturers.
"Besides that, 20 blood samples have been taken at random from the affected
students and we hope to get the results of the tests by tonight and not on
Friday as announced earlier," he told reporters here Wednesday.
Dr Mah said the Health Ministry would also investigate to find out why the
students at three UiTM campuses contracted the influenza-like illness, forcing
the campuses to be closed temporarily.
Besides the Seri Iskandar campus, the other two affected UiTM campuses are
in Permatang Pauh in northern state of Penang, which was also ordered closed
from Wednesday, and in Lendu in southern province Alor Gajah, which closed for
nine days from July 8.
Dr Mah advised students and the public experiencing similar symptoms to take
health precautions like washing their hands frequently, using a face mask and to
remain in the home when quarantined.
"Those with a rather serious condition should immediately go to the hospital
for treatment," he added.
Wednesday morning, several medical officers and staff from the state Health
Department, led by its deputy director, went to the UiTM Seri Iskandar campus
after 55 students were quarantined since Tuesday evening.
Last Friday, a group of students were believed to have gone on a three-day
course in Kelantan where one of them developed Influenza A(H1N1)-like symptoms
and was quarantined as a precautionary measure.
-- BERNAMA
State Health, Local Government, Environment, Public Transportation and
Consumer and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman, Dr Mah Hang Soon, said
the urgent measure was taken to prevent the illness from spreading to other
areas nearby.
"Although the directive is immediate, we are giving UiTM until tomorrow to
vacate the campus which has more than 12,000 students, staff and lecturers.
"Besides that, 20 blood samples have been taken at random from the affected
students and we hope to get the results of the tests by tonight and not on
Friday as announced earlier," he told reporters here Wednesday.
Dr Mah said the Health Ministry would also investigate to find out why the
students at three UiTM campuses contracted the influenza-like illness, forcing
the campuses to be closed temporarily.
Besides the Seri Iskandar campus, the other two affected UiTM campuses are
in Permatang Pauh in northern state of Penang, which was also ordered closed
from Wednesday, and in Lendu in southern province Alor Gajah, which closed for
nine days from July 8.
Dr Mah advised students and the public experiencing similar symptoms to take
health precautions like washing their hands frequently, using a face mask and to
remain in the home when quarantined.
"Those with a rather serious condition should immediately go to the hospital
for treatment," he added.
Wednesday morning, several medical officers and staff from the state Health
Department, led by its deputy director, went to the UiTM Seri Iskandar campus
after 55 students were quarantined since Tuesday evening.
Last Friday, a group of students were believed to have gone on a three-day
course in Kelantan where one of them developed Influenza A(H1N1)-like symptoms
and was quarantined as a precautionary measure.
-- BERNAMA
