Zika: No Singapore, Philippine trips for Selangor schools

The Selangor Education Department has instructed all school trips to Singapore and the Philippines be cancelled due to the spread of the Zika virus.

Its director Mohd Salleh Mohd Kassim said the order was issued on Thursday to all District Education Offices.

"The order to cancel the trips is for all groups travelling during the current school holidays as well as in the near future.

"However, for groups going to both countries at the end of this year or early next year have been advised to postpone their programme until the virus has been controlled or eradicated," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the independence month here Friday.

He was commenting on measures taken by the department to curb the spread of the Zika virus in schools.

Salleh added that the department had also ordered all schools to be thoroughly cleaned before school reopens on Sept 19.