Sabah Health Ministry: Six pupils have H1N1 in SK Stella Maris

Frankie Poon (fourth left) witnessing Mohd Shafie (sixth left) presenting one of the lion dance head to a Chinese association leader at the State Administration Centre lobby on Tuesday.

KOTA KINABALU: Six pupils of SK Stella Maris here have tested positive for H1N1, says Sabah Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Frankie Poon.

However, Poon said it was not serious and that closing the school temporarily was just one way to handle the situation.

“I have only heard about this over the last one hour, so I cannot provide more details on the background of the pupils. It is not an epidemic," said Poon.

He added that the ministry does not want the disease to spread with the Chinese New Year celebrations just round the corner.

“We have sent the pupils involved home. It is not fatal unless those infected have serious health complications. They just need to go back and rest, wash their hands often and wear face masks," he said when met after attending the presentation of lion dance heads on Tuesday (Jan 21) by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to 40 Chinese association leaders in conjunction with Chinese New Year.

On the possibility of an insufficient supply of the H1N1 vaccine in Sabah, Poon said there was no reason to worry as the sudden shortage might be due to an increase of people down with the illness.

"There is a continuous supply of the vaccine coming into state," he added.

Sabah health director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi said she was informed that there was pressure from the Parent Teacher Association to close the school.

"We do not need to close the school unless the premises were the source of infection.

"In this matter, the decision was made by the district health officer. We will look at the criteria first before making a decision," she said, adding that they would monitor the cases and situation closely.