The Government should consider closing schools temporarily to avoid further spread of influenza A (H1N1).

Dr Ng Keong Chye, head of Gerakan’s Central Bureau on Public Health and Social Development, said the situation was worsening and closing schools would be a good preventive measure.

“Schools will have their holidays from Aug 22 to 30 and the government may want to consider bringing forward the holidays and give an extension of another week if the situation does not improve,” he said in a statement.

“We should not wait for pupils of a school to get infected and then close the school concerned,” he said.

Dr Ng, who is also Ketari state assemblyman, said individual responsibility was also very important to take necessary preventive measures to avoid the spread of influenza A (H1N1) virus to others.

He said everybody should play his role and be civic-minded to help combat the disease.

“Thus, if a pupil has the flu symptoms, he must abide by the advice of the Ministry of Health, that is to stay at home and avoid going to crowded places or attend public events, until the cold symptoms disappeared,” he said.

Dr Ng also advised the public to follow the instructions of World Health Organisation, and to practise personal hygiene, especially to avoid hand-touch on the face and reduce activities in crowded places.

He said the Ministry of Education could also study the feasibility of introducing e-learning (E-learning) for high-risk schools.

He pointed out that with the boom in information technology, e-learning was becoming an increasingly popular trend.

“Today, most homes have computers and internet-access. With e-learning, students can learn anytime, anywhere,” he said.

“Although e-learning cannot replace traditional teaching, at least it offers students an alternative learning channel.”