Schools advised to stagger students seeking medical checks, says Perak health exco
IPOH, Sept 16 — The Perak government has advised schools to coordinate with District Health Offices and relevant health facilities before bringing large numbers of students for medical examinations following an outbreak.
The advice came after a boarding school in Ipoh brought 57 students with Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) to a nearby health clinic simultaneously, despite being advised to bring them in stages.
Perak Health, Human Resources, Indian Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman Datuk A. Sivanesan said bringing symptomatic students in stages would help prevent congestion at health facilities and reduce the risk of infection transmission.
“The affected boarding school has been advised not to bring large numbers of symptomatic students to health facilities at the same time if more cases are identified,” he said in a statement.
Sivanesan said the Perak Health Department, through the Kinta District Health Office (PKD Kinta), was managing an Influenza A cluster at a boarding secondary school in Ipoh, with control measures, screening and epidemiological investigations carried out immediately.
Following the incident, he said health authorities conducted clinical screening and assessments, epidemiological investigations, laboratory sampling and other prevention and control measures to contain the spread among the school community.
“On September 14 at 12.08pm, 57 symptomatic students were brought simultaneously by bus to a nearby health clinic without prior notification.
“Some of the students also did not bring identification documents, affecting the smooth management of patients at the clinic,” he said.
Sivanesan said an integrated PKD Kinta and clinic team was also deployed to the school at around 2pm the same day to conduct centralised health screening and assessments.
“The team comprised a medical officer, assistant medical officer, healthcare assistant, pharmacist, an infection prevention and control team member and three PKD Kinta surveillance unit members,” he added.
However, on September 15, the school reported another 27 symptomatic students.
“Although the school was advised to bring symptomatic students to health facilities in stages to avoid overcrowding at the clinic, the school informed authorities that it intended to transport the students using a school bus.
“The clinic then coordinated with the school to ensure the admission, screening and assessment process could be carried out in an orderly manner,” Sivanesan said.
He said a further 12 symptomatic students were identified, bringing the total number assessed that day to 39.
“The assessment was completed at 1pm, with all students reported to be in stable condition.
“A total of 61 students had undergone health screening and assessment. Of these, 46 were diagnosed with ILI, 14 with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and one with conjunctivitis,” he said.
“Nasopharyngeal swab samples were also taken from six students for laboratory testing, with the results being monitored by PKD Kinta to determine further action,” he added.
Sivanesan said PKD Kinta was continuing epidemiological investigations and monitoring new cases among the school community to identify transmission patterns, the number of cases, contacts and related risk factors.
