THE Ministry of Education has strengthened its response to the recent spike in influenza-like illnesses (ILI) across Malaysian schools, issuing new preventive guidelines and stepping up coordination with the Ministry of Health.
Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said in a statement that comprehensive and continuous measures are in place at all educational institutions under the ministry’s purview.
“The measures implemented include the issuance of a circular detailing guidelines on preventing the spread of ILI, providing administrators of all institutions with a clear framework to manage the situation in an organised and effective manner,” he said.
The reminder of the circular was distributed on 6 October through state and district education offices.
Dr Mohd Azam added that collaboration with the Health Ministry’s Disease Control Division is ongoing to monitor the spread of ILI, with the aim of safeguarding the health of students, teachers, and the broader education community.
Among the key measures are advising symptomatic individuals to seek medical attention, isolating students with symptoms in sick bays while awaiting collection by parents or guardians, and encouraging students with flu-like symptoms to rest at home or in their hostels.
He further urged members of the school community to wear face masks, especially in crowded or public areas, and to practise good personal hygiene.
“The importance of parental awareness is also being emphasised,” he said, highlighting the need for families to remain vigilant and play an active role in early detection and prevention.
The latest data from the Health Ministry revealed a sharp increase in ILI cases, with 97 clusters of influenza A and B reported in Epidemiological Week 40 of 2025 — a significant jump from 14 clusters the previous week. The majority of these have been linked to educational institutions. - October10, 2025
