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Monday July 27, 2009
UUM suspends classes and activities for six days
ALOR SETAR: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has suspended all classes and student activities for six days from today following the high number of students with mild Influenza A (H1N1) symptoms.
Its deputy vice-chancellor (Aca- demic and International) Lt-Kol Prof Dr Abdul Razak Chik said the university made the decision after a large number of students were referred to the university’s health clinic with mild symptoms of the virus.
“During the six days, the students are allowed to return home. If they want to remain at their hostels, we will take the necessary measures to curb the spread of the flu,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Prof Abdul Razak said the state Health Department had taken blood samples from 10 students for testing so far.
The university has a student population of about 20,000.
In Penang, SRK Aik Keow in Teluk Air Tawar and the Seberang Perai Polytechnic in Permatang Pauh have been ordered closed for one week from yesterday after their students were found to have contracted the virus.
State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said a cluster of students from both education institutions were tested positive for the virus but declined to reveal the figures.
In Kuala Terengganu, SM Sains in Dungun and a hostel in Marang have been ordered to close for a week from yesterday after 23 students were suspected to have been infected with the virus.
State Health, Unity and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar said the school and the hostel were informed of the decision yesterday afternoon.
Previously UiTM Dungun and Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin were also ordered to temporarily close their operations due to the virus scare.
In Klang, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said 54 new cases were recorded yesterday compared to only 44 the previous day.
“Although the increase is not a good sign, the situation is very much under control,” he said.
He said the pandemic was still contained within the clusters as opposed to some other countries where it was already in the “streets.”
“There is no community transmission in Malaysia and we know where the current transmission comes from,” Liow said, adding that all transmissions in Malaysia came from seven clusters, which have been identified.
He said everyone must work hard in battling the A (H1N1) given the fact that it was a new virus and did not have a vaccine to prevent the infection.
“We have put in a lot of measures and have moved from containment to mitigation,” he said.
On the baby that was born to a mother infected with the virus at the Miri General Hospital in Sarawak, Liow said the newborn had tested negative for the influenza.
The woman gave birth on July 21, and became ill with high fever soon after, and subsequently was tested positive for the virus on Thursday.