46 pelajar sekolah di Ipoh dijangkiti influenza, kata exco

In Ipoh, 46 secondary school students were diagnosed with Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) following a cluster of Influenza A cases, according to Sivanesan, the Chairman of the Human Resources, Health, Community Welfare, and National Integration Committee for Perak. The figure was obtained through health screening and assessment of 61 students by the District Health Department (PKD) of Kinta until September 14.

Apart from ILI, the screening also found 14 students with Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) and one student with conjunctivitis. Six nasopharyngeal swabs samples were taken for further lab tests.

As of September 15, 2026, all evaluated students were reported to be in stable condition. The Perak Health Department (JKN) through PKD Kinta will continue to monitor the situation, including any new cases and lab test outcomes, and strengthen control and prevention measures if necessary. Current information about recent developments will be provided as it becomes available.

Sivanesan explained that the issue began on September 14 when 57 students fell ill and were taken to a nearby health clinic without prior notice, before the PKD Kinta control team moved in for assessment. On September 15, the school reported an additional 27 students falling ill. Though the school was advised to bring ill students in groups to avoid clinic congestion, they opted to transport the students using a school-provided bus.

Subsequently, the clinic adjusted its procedures to ensure regular and controlled intake, screening, and assessment of patients. A total of 39 students underwent health assessment on September 15, 2026, ranging from 12 to 39 students assessed per day. All students were reported to be in stable condition after the assessment.

Control and prevention measures taken by the school include isolating ill students from others, arranging for students who are fit to return home for self-isolation until they recover, and providing health education on prevention methods, such as hand hygiene, coughing etiquette, using face masks for the ill, and the importance of seeking medical attention if symptoms worsen. The school was also advised not to bring multiple ill students together to the health facility unless properly coordinated with the health facility.

The public is advised to take steps to reduce the risk of influenza transmission, including frequent handwashing, covering the mouth when coughing, and sneezing, avoiding close contact with ill individuals, and using hand sanitizer and hand sanitizing wipes when necessary. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to ensure affected children do not attend school until they recover, teach proper handwashing and cough/sneeze etiquette, provide face masks and hand sanitizers for children if needed, and consider influenza testing through available health facilities if symptoms persist or worsen.