‘MINISTRY WAITING FOR REPORT’
We want to know if victim’s infection came from school or public area, says Teo
THE Education Ministry is awaiting the full report on the 2-year-old boy who died of suspected hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) on Saturday, says Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching.
She said the ministry needed to know if the incident stemmed from a school or public area.
“If two cases are confirmed in the same classroom, the classroom concerned will be closed for 14 days in accordance with the Health Ministry’s standard operating procedure (SOP).
“The closure of the school or classroom will depend on the Health Ministry’s directive. Teachers are asked to examine their pupils for HFMD symptoms and suspected cases will be brought immediately to the nearest clinic,” she said after officiating the Foon Yew schools’ 105th anniversary at SJK (C) Foon Yew 3, Jalan Dato Jaafar, yesterday.
The case in Mukah is believed to be the first such fatality reported in the HFMD outbreak this year.
On another matter, Teo, who is Kulai member of parliament, said her ministry would give aid to the most critically dilapidated schools as soon as possible.
She said about 3,000 out of the 10,000 schools nationwide were categorised as being in a dilapidated state and needed allocations to upgrade their infrastructure and facilities.
In Melaka, the state Education Department said there had been no closures of schools, preschools or classes, even though 38 students from 28 schools statewide had contracted HFMD.
State education director Abu Bakar Sahari said schools in three districts — Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin — had lodged reports on the infections.
State health exco member Low Chee Leong said HFMD cases in the state up to Thursday rose by 612 cases or 72.1 per cent, compared with last year.