Thousands of Malaysian students have been instructed to remain at home for up to a week as authorities close schools nationwide due to a significant increase in influenza cases.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, referencing the Education Ministry, nearly 100 clusters of influenza A and B have been identified, leading to precautionary school closures just weeks ahead of the national Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination — a vital school-leaving assessment undertaken by approximately 400,000 students.
Education Ministry Director-General Mohd Azam Ahmad informed SCMP that this decision was made based on recommendations from district health officials.
“Several schools have been directed to close in order to limit the spread of the virus,” he stated, noting that around 6,000 students are currently impacted by these closures.
The ministry has yet to announce when it will reassess the school closures or permit students to return to classes, as nearly 100 influenza clusters continue to proliferate throughout the nation. Health authorities presently advise a self-quarantine period of five to seven days for those who are infected.
Director-General Mohd Azam Ahmad indicated that schools across Malaysia have been mandated to enforce stringent preventive and control measures to mitigate the outbreak.
“We have reminded schools to adhere to these guidelines, promoting the use of face masks and minimizing large group activities among students,” SCMP quoted Mohd Azam as stating to the national news agency Bernama.
Last Thursday, the health ministry published statistics indicating an increase in influenza clusters across all 14 states and federal territories, with Selangor reporting the highest incidence of cases.
This current wave of influenza is one of the most extensive viral outbreaks Malaysia has encountered since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic five years ago.
In spite of the disruption, Mohd Azam conveyed confidence in the ministry’s readiness, highlighting that officials have acquired “extensive experience” in managing infectious diseases during the pandemic.
“We have requested that the examination board prepare for these challenges as the SPM is set to commence shortly,” he stated, alluding to the national school-leaving examination that is slated to begin on November 3. Nevertheless, he did not provide further details on whether contingency measures were established for students who may be impacted.
