47 Teluk Intan students isolated for ILI symptoms

Forty-seven students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Abdul Rahman Talib in Jalan Changkat Jong here were confined to the dormitory of the school after suffering influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms.

Teluk Intan member of parliament Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong upon learning about the matter came to visit the 28 male and 19 female students today.

He said the symptoms that were detected since March 8 among 47 of the 428 students at the school included coughing, flu, fever and sore throat.

"Their health is stable and the situation is being monitored to prevent the illness from spreading to other students.

"Samples of saliva were taken from some of the students at the hostel and sent to the National Public Health Laboratory in Sungai Buluh (Selangor)," he told reporters here today.

He noted that the school had taken preventive and control measures including providing face masks to students.

In this regard, Mah also urged the Hilir Perak Education Office to step up health monitoring among the students to detect early symptoms of influenza.

Yesterday, state Health, Public Transport, Non-muslim Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon disclosed that 216 pelajar in three schools in Ipoh were found to be suffering from ILI.

Of the number, 129 students are from Sekolah Raja Perempuan Taayah; 84, from Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman; and the rest from Sekolah Kebangsaan Klebang. -- BERNAMA