ALOR SETAR: An unidentified infectious disease cluster has been detected among students and staff members from a school in Yan.
All health authorities in Kedah are on alert for patients showing symptoms of a cold, fever, cough, blisters, vomiting, diarrhoea, and red rashes.
Health authorities have been cautioned to watch for patients with a history of visiting, staying overnight, or participating in activities at a private training camp in Yan on or after Thursday (April 3).
Kedah health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria stressed the importance of investigating the infectious disease cluster.
"All medical officers must immediately notify the Kedah Health Department if patients display any of the mentioned criteria.
"The Kedah Health Department confirms an unidentified infectious disease involving students and staff of a secondary school from the Kuala Muda district," he said.
The department received the notification of the cases on Thursday (April 24).
"Following the notification, the Kuala Muda and Yan District Health offices conducted an immediate investigation and confirmed that the students had attended a training camp in the Yan district.
"The cases currently involve 14-year-old students and staff members. All the patients are receiving treatment at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital and are in stable condition," he said.
He later told The Star that the case only involves seven victims and not 39 as earlier mentioned.
Mansor said inspections and risk assessments have been carried out at the involved locations, and restrictions have been placed there.
"We request the public not to speculate, which could cause panic and disrupt the investigation.
"I urge everyone to take preventive measures and maintain cleanliness in their residential and recreational areas to prevent the spread of any infectious disease," he said.
