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Published: Friday June 26, 2009 MYT 4:01:00 PM
Updated: Friday June 26, 2009 MYT 8:51:34 PM

A (H1N1): Self-quarantined employees to get 7-day MC on full pay


LATEST: Kudat school told to close classes as total cases reach 105 nationwide

PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet decided Friday that any employee on self-quarantine on suspicion of having the Influenza A (H1N1) will be given a seven day medical leave with full pay.

These employees would have to get an authorisation letter from any government hospitals or clinics to certify that he had to be home quarantined for a week, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said.

“The letter will then have to be produced to the employer who will accord the employee sick leave,” he said in a statement Friday.

Subramaniam said the move was in line with Section 60F (bb) of the Employment Act.

Meanwhile, students can delay their registration for the 2009/10 academic session at public universities on Sunday if they have been advised by a doctor and have a medical certificate.

Higher Education Department director-general Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Suhadi advised the 40,366 successful applicants registering for entry into the country’s 20 public universities to consult a doctor if they were unwell or have any symptoms similar to the Influenza A (H1N1).

“They may delay registration if advised to do so by the doctor but they must inform their respective institution,” he told The Star.

Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ghauth Jasmon said all students would be asked to fill a health declaration form.

In Sabah, two classes of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Abdul Rahim 2, Kudat were ordered to close temporarily from Friday following the detection of an Influenza A (H1N1) case, Health Director General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said.

The closure involved 125 students and teachers who are now placed under house quarantine.

Dr Mohd Ismail said the infection was detected on a 24-year-old teacher who went on a 17-day vacation in Istanbul and returned to Malaysia on June 18.

The teacher returned to the school on June 22 and only developed the flu symptoms on June 23.

"The teacher went for a treatment at the Kudat Hospital where he was referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu. He was confirmed positive for the Influenza A(H1N1) virus yesterday," he told reporters here.

He said the teacher's family members had been placed under house quarantine.

There were 14 new Influenza A(H1N1) cases detected nationwide from yesterday until 8am Friday, including the one involving the teacher.

Of the total, 13 were imported cases and one local transmission.

This brings the total Influenza A (H1N1) cases in the country to 105, comprising 90 imported and 15 local transmission. No death reported so far.

Dr Mohd Ismail said of the 14 news cases, 10 were Malaysians, three Australians and one Philippine citizen.

Of the 13 imported cases, five involved those who visited Melbourne, London (three), Phuket (two), Manila (one), Istanbul (one) and Singapore (one). The local transmission involved a Malaysian.

The number of schools closed due to the disease remained at four, involving 2,300 students, teachers and staff members, he said.

The number of students involved in the closure of classes, including the latest in SMK Abdul Rahim 2, is 625.

He called on parents to ensure children under house quarantine adhered to the order to prevent local transmission.

Dr Mohd Ismail also said that the local transmissions were still at the "first generation" level and could still be contained.

Once it reached the second generation and beyond, there would be nothing that could be done to stop its spread, he added.

"That is why certain countries have given up... because there is no way they can control the disease anymore. So, we have to be very careful and we must be responsible and not let the transmission go beyond the first generation," he said.

He also spoke on the need for the public to wear masks, especially those who had fever or cough. Those who had just returned from overseas should stay at home for seven days.

Meanwhile, The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has instructed all its 150,000 members to be on the alert and take precautions to prevent the spread of the influenza A (HINI) in their respective schools.

Its secretary-general, Lok Yim Pheng, told Bernama today that the union had formed its own team to closely monitor the situation in all schools.

"We have also instructed the teachers to observe all precautions recommended by the Health Ministry and to ensure that their pupils also do the same," she said.

So far, four schools have been closed as some students were tested positive as carriers of the deathly flu.

Lok said the teachers had been told to speedily inform the authorities if they found any flu symptoms among their charges.

"If all teachers, pupils, parents and school authorities cooperate and do their part, the disease can be contained fast," she said.

Lok said teachers were also advised to strictly enforce the precaution of personal hygiene among their pupils and avoid group activities that could lead to the spread, Bernama reported.

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