Malaysia has ordered temporary school closures following a sudden nationwide surge in influenza infections among students, with nearly 6,000 reported cases triggering public concern and renewed vigilance reminiscent of the early pandemic phase. The Director-General of Education stated that schools have been instructed to reinforce preventive measures such as face mask use and the suspension of large gatherings. Last week, the Health Ministry reported 97 influenza clusters (up from 14 the previous week); many of these clusters were identified in schools and kindergartens.
Adding to public anxiety, a newly detected COVID-19 variant named XFG has emerged in the country, accounting for about 8.2% of recent infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized it as a “variant under monitoring” due to its high transmissibility and immune evasion potential. Despite this, Malaysia’s…
