Mystery illness at Perak school turns out to be Influenza A(H1N1)

IPOH (Bernama): Claims of a mysterious illness in Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR) here that went viral on social media Tuesday (April 16) are not true as it is just an Influenza A(H1N1) infection, it was revealed Wednesday (April 17).

Perak Health, Consumer Affairs, Civil Society and Human Resource Committee chairman A. Sivanesan (pic) said 79 students, aged from 13 to 17, and a teacher were found to have fever and cough yesterday.

He said two of the students were admitted to a private hospital for treatment and observation and one of them was discharged today. The rest received outpatient treatment.

"They are all reported to be in stable condition. Twenty-eight of them were isolated. Four of the those with cough were confirmed to be Influenza A(H1N1) positive.

"The situation in the school is under control," he told a press conference at the Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzan.

Sivanesan was asked to comment on a Facebook post that claimed that 100 students from the school were afflicted by a mysterious illness, with many of them coughing, vomiting and having a fever, which prompted their parents to take them home from the all-male residential school.

He said the Kinta District Health Office had taken measures to prevent the spread of the infection, including isolating the sick students.

As a means of checking infection, the public is advised to take preventive measures, including getting treatment at the clinic or hospital for influenza symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat.

"Stay home during the period when you have the symptoms and reduce the number of meetings with friends or relatives, avoid public places such as shopping centres, schools, kindergartens or workplaces and do not attend public events," he said.

If those with these symptoms are required to go to work, they should use face masks at all times and should practise good hygiene, he said, adding that seasonal influenza vaccines were encouraged, especially for those at high risk. - Bernama