School closed after suspected A/H1N1 flu detected

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 -- A school in Malaysia has been temporarily closed on Wednesday after 166 students developed symptoms of the A/H1N1 flu.

The students were found to have sore throats and coughs Wednesday morning, and were asked to receive medical treatment and rest at home, reported China Press, a local Chinese Daily.

According to the newspaper, the secondary school ordered all co- curricular activities to be stopped, but changed its decision later at noon to close the school for the rest of the day.

The school was quoted as saying that two teachers from the school had been hospitalized. While the daughter of one of the teachers was said to have been tested positive for A/H1N1, the saying was yet to be confirmed.

The daily also reported that a form four student from the school, who had earlier returned from an overseas trip, died on her way to the hospital after she fainted at school recently.

However, the brother of the deceased clarified that his sister had succumbed to bacterial lung infection.

Malaysian Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai had earlier assured members of the public that the fatal disease was well controlled, and was not spreading.

There was also no indication that the second wave of A/H1N1 flu was imminent in the country, added Liow.

Source: Xinhuanet.com