Sarawak Childcare Centres, Kindergartens Urged To Remain Vigilant Amid Influenza A Cases

KUCHING, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak has called on all childcare centres and kindergartens in the state to remain alert and strictly adhere to health standard operating procedures (SOPs), following the recent rise in influenza A cases in schools.

Its Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said Taska (childcare centre) and Tadika (kindergarten) operators and teachers must continue daily preventive practices, such as taking children’s temperatures and checking their hands, feet and mouths before allowing them into classrooms.

“If a child has a fever or shows symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) or flu, parents must be notified and advised to take their child to a clinic for further examination,” she said in a statement today.

Earlier, the Ministry of Education (MOE), in a statement today, assured that preventive and control measures to curb the spread of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) are continuously and comprehensively implemented across all educational institutions under its purview.

Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said these measures include the issuance of a circular on Oct 6 outlining guidelines for managing ILI cases effectively, as well as cooperation between the MOE and the Health Ministry’s Disease Control Division to monitor infections.

According to the Health Ministry data released yesterday, 97 clusters of influenza A and B infections were recorded during Epidemiological Week 40/2025, compared to 14 clusters the previous week, with most cases involving educational institutions.

-- BERNAMA