Another 71 students were found having influenza-like illness (ILI), bringing the total number of students infected with the virus in Perak to 414.

According to a Perak Health Department statement, the new cases recorded involved 13 students of the Slim River Vocational College.

Meanwhile, the number of students from Sekolah Menengah Raja Perempuan Taayah who were infected with the virus increased to 202; Sekolah Tunku Abdul Rahman (STAR) (114); Sekolah Kebangsaan Klebang Jaya (three); and, Sekolah Menengah Abdul Rahman Talib (SMART) in Teluk Intan (82).

Of the total, 65 new patients were isolated in hostels, making the total number of students isolated in hostels to 299.

Four students were isolated at hospital wards while the rest stayed in their respective homes.

Thirty-four throat swabs taken from students of the five affected schools have been sent to the Ipoh Public Health Laboratory and Sungai Buloh National Public Health Laboratory in Selangor.

Three of the six samples taken from STAR were found positive for influenze A (H3) while two of the six samples from Sekolah Menengah Raja Perempuan Taayah were each found to have influenza A (H3) and influenza B.

The results of 18 samples from Sekolah Kebangsaan Klebang, Slim River Vocational College and Teluk Intan SMART are not out yet.

-- BERNAMA