Malaysia bans school trips to Singapore, Philippines over Zika fears

KOTA TINGGI • Malaysia’s Education Ministry has imposed a temporary ban on school trips and other education-related visits to Singapore and the Philippines to prevent the spread of the Zika virus, according to Malaysian media reports.

The ministry issued a nationwide circular to all state and district-level education authorities announcing the temporary ban on Sept 1 after a high-level ministry meeting, Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid said yesterday.

“A circular was issued to all district education offices, state education departments and schools for all trips to Singapore and the Philippines to be postponed for the time being because of the cases of Zika in those countries,” the New Straits Times quoted Datuk Seri Mahdzir as saying.

Malaysia on Sept 1 reported its first case of Zika in a 58-year-old woman who had visited Singapore.

The Malaysian Education Ministry’s directive will remain in place until the country’s Health Ministry issues an update on the Zika situation in Singapore and the Philippines.

Article from the Strait Times

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