IPOH: Some 216 students from three schools here are down with influenza-like illnesses, and not H1N1 as initially speculated.

Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said only a handful of students were diagnosed with Influenza A subtype H3, which he termed as a normal “seasonal flu”.

They were two students from Sekolah Raja Perempuan Taayah and three students from Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR).

The students down with influenza-like illnesses comprise 129 from Sekolah Raja Perempuan Taayah, 84 from STAR and three from SK Klebang Jaya.

“Most of the students from Raja Perempuan Taayah are recuperating since the outbreak started there on March 4.

“Students from STAR are still showing symptoms and are coughing more since the illness began there on March 6,” Dr Mah told reporters after visiting the schools on Friday.

“The three students from Seri Klebang are resting at home,” he said.

Dr Mah urged the public to observe proper hygiene and to seek treatment immediately if they are feeling ill and showing symptoms of influenza-like illnesses.

The symptoms include fever, sore throat, cold, muscle pain and cough.-thestar