PETALING JAYA: The ailment affecting 28 students in Yan, Kedah, has been identified as Influenza-Like Illness (ILI), according to the Health Ministry.
The ministry has identified the 28 students as part of a cluster, stating that the Kuala Muda district health office detected ILI infections among students at an educational institution there on April 23.
The 28 cases were detected among 158 students who were exposed to the infection.
Of these, six tested positive for Influenza A and were treated at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim in Sungai Petani.
They have since been discharged, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The remaining 22 students received outpatient treatment.
“The district health office and Kedah state health department have undertaken control and prevention measures, including investigating the surrounding environment, carrying out risk analysis in the camp area, carrying out active surveillance at the education institution, isolating symptomatic cases as well as monitoring ILI cases in the Kuala Muda district,” it said.
The district health office was notified of a case involving a 14-year-old male student from the same institution on April 23.
The teenager has been suffering from fever and body aches, especially in the right hip area, since attending a two-day programme at the Jati Diri camp, located at a recreational centre in Yan.
A staff member of the institution had also reportedly suffered from fever, fatigue, coughing and body aches since April 17.
The ministry said both patients are currently warded at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim and are in stable condition.
“Tests have been conducted on both cases, and their test results have come back as negative for the influenza virus. The cause of infection is still under investigation,” it said.
The ministry urged the public to observe hygiene standards and get their annual influenza vaccination.
