PETALING JAYA: A private school in Kota Damansara has been forced to shut down after several students reportedly suffered from food poisoning linked to the school canteen.
Sri KDU Schools acknowledged the situation, emphasising their efforts to break the chain of infection and support those who do not feel well.
“While the situation has been difficult, especially for those who have taken ill, we are very grateful for the support, advice and guidance that many in our community have contributed,” it said in a statement yesterday.
The school did not disclose specific numbers but it is believed that more than 20 students have fallen ill.
Sri KDU Schools said its catering service has since undergone inspection by health authorities, who reviewed kitchen procedures and collected samples for testing.
“We will continue to work with them to identify the source of infection and implement any recommendations to mitigate future occurrence if necessary,” the statement continued.
Sri KDU Schools stressed their commitment to transparency, especially as information about the incident circulated on social media.
“The school identified and self-reported the matter to the education, health and police authorities. We will continue to work closely with them to address concerns, identify the source of the infections and put in place actions to address resultant concerns as soon as possible,” it said.
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Students who received hospital treatment, mainly for dehydration, have been discharged and are recovering at home, it said.
“One child is receiving ongoing treatment and making good progress to recovery. There are no members of our community who are seriously ill at this time,” it added.
The statement also noted that most cases among students have seen recovery within 24 to 48 hours, although specific figures were not provided.
“We advise that treatment focuses on hydration. Diagnostic tests that we have conducted on a sample of students and staff and those conducted on children treated at the hospital have confirmed the presence of norovirus.
“Close quarters, shared spaces and high-touch surfaces make it easy for norovirus to spread in schools. Our infection controls, closure and deep cleaning should help to break the chain of infection,” it explained.
“We would kindly request all parents to refrain from sharing unverified information or making speculation online, particularly in WhatsApp groups.
“This is distressing for many other parents who are concerned about the health of their children and causes confusion about factual information that is being shared through official channels,” it said.
The school expects to resume normal operations on Nov 4.
