Schools closed to control infection, says health D-G
PUTRAJAYA: The recent move to close schools with cases of mumps is to break the chain of infection, said Health directorgeneral Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday.
He said the school closures, which followed the detection of mumps cases at a school in Kajang, were part of measures to control the outbreak, which included isolating students and conducting health education classes.
“(Initially, we made the decision to) isolate students, (but) the virus still spread due to continuous interaction among students. (So we have) shut down the school from Oct 23 to Nov 9 to break the (chain of infection).
“(On Oct 16), a school in Gombak (reported an outbreak). It was closed on Oct 24 and will (reopen) on Nov 6. All (sick) students from both schools are stable and have received treatment,” said Dr Noor Hisham.
It was reported that SMAP Kajang and SBP Integrasi Gombak were closed following mumps outbreak.
Dr Noor Hisham urged students with symptoms to stay at home so that they would not infect their schoolmates.
As for the public, he urged them to seek medical advice and observe hygiene.
According to Dr Noor Hisham, mumps is caused by paramyxovirus.
“Patients will have fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and swelling of the salivary glands. The virus can spread through respiratory secretions and contact with surfaces touched by infected people,” he said, adding that patients with mumps would recover in two to three weeks.
He said complications like inflammation of the testicles, brain tissue, spinal cord, ovaries and ears could occur, albeit rarely.
Dr Noor Hisham said as of Oct 20, 75 clusters of mumps cases were reported nationwide, compared with 64 in the same period last year. Of the 75 clusters, 59 were detected in schools.
Mumps sufferers are contagious for about 15 days (six days before symptoms show and up to nine days after they manifest).
Dr Noor Hisham said immunisation could provide protection against mumps.
“Mumps vaccinations in Malaysia began in 2002 and comprise a cocktail that also protects against measles and rubella.”