UiTM to close as new H1N1 cases surface

Star: MALACCA: The Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Lendu, Alor Gajah, was ordered to close temporarily following the spread of the influenza A (H1N1) virus to nine more students.
Confirming that the order was made by the Health Ministry, UiTM vice-chancellor Tan Sri Prof Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah said some 5,000 students were informed by university officials late yesterday that they would be given a nine-day break until July 24 in an attempt to prevent further infections.
“We are complying with the ministry’s order in an effort to prevent the situation from getting serious here,” he said.
Dr Ibrahim said parents would be allowed to fetch their children around the clock.
“Students living in and around Malacca would be allowed to leave immediately while those from elsewhere would be allowed to stay on until their parents pick them up,” he added.
Last Sunday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai confirmed that four UiTM students in Lendu tested positive for the virus and that the university would be ordered to stop classes temporarily if further transmissions occurred.
The nine UiTM students were part of the 10 new cases of A (H1N1) recorded yesterday, the last one being a patient at the Sungai Buloh Hospital. It marks the first time where all new cases in a day were caused by local transmissions.
In Kuala Lumpur, Liow described the situation at the UiTM campus as “alarming.”
“I am upset that the situation in Malacca is expanding and have directed Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican to personally attend to the matter,” he said yesterday.
Meanwhile, health officials were seen going into the campus yesterday before the order to temporarily close the university was issued.