Effective today, the Ministry OfHealth Malaysia of will issue statements every day to update Malaysians on the influenza A (H1N1) news and situation in the country.
This, according to Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, was because of the increasing trend of influenza-like illness (ILI) and H1N1 cases reported in big clusters daily nationwide.
An increasing trend of new cases were reported in Selangor, Pahang, Kedah, and Malacca
Disclosing the new cases reported on Tuesday, Liow said four pupils of SJK (C) Han Mong in Batu 14, Puchong, Selangor have been found positive for H1N1.
The pupils were among 12 from the same school who were taken to a hospital when they showed symptoms of the disease.
“The pupils who were treated for ILI were also tested for H1N1 and four of them were found positive for the disease,” said Liow.
They were among 220 schoolchildren in Selangor, Pahang and Kedah who were taken to hospitals after they showed ILI symptoms on Tuesday.
Liow said they were awaiting laboratory results to ascertain whether the pupils from six other schools were positive for H1N1.
The pupils who were treated as outpatients for ILI till 10pm on Tuesday were:
SM Sains Pekan, Pahang (32);
SM Sains Kuala Selangor, Selangor (15);
SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Kuah, Langkawi (46);
MRSM Langkawi (17); and,
SRK Bayas, Langkawi (54).
Liow said they were in close contact with Education Ministry officials on the matter.
Until 5.30pm on Monday, said Liow, there were 507 people warded in 47 government and 12 private hospitals nationwide with ILI.
Of the number, he added, 36 of them have been confirmed positive for H1N1. Four of them are being treated in the intensive care unit of hospitals in Kelantan, Selangor and here for complications due to co-morbid conditions.