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New Delhi: Malaysia has temporarily shut down several schools after nearly 6,000 students were found infected with influenza, sparking public concern and comparisons to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We already have extensive experience in dealing with infectious diseases from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Director-General Mohd Azam Ahmad on Monday, according to a video shared by a local news broadcaster.
He added that schools have been reminded to follow preventive guidelines — including encouraging the use of face masks and avoiding large group activities. However, he did not specify how many schools have been closed so far.
The infections have been reported across multiple regions in the country. According to the Health Ministry, Malaysia recorded 97 influenza clusters last week — a sharp increase from 14 clusters the week before — most of them in schools and kindergartens.
New COVID-19 Strain Detected
Adding to public concern, earlier reports suggested that a new COVID-19 variant, named XFG, has recently emerged in Malaysia. The strain is believed to account for 8.2% of recent cases, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as a “variant under monitoring” due to its high transmissibility and immune evasion capabilities.So far this year, Malaysia has reported 43,087 COVID-19 cases, marking a 49.5% decline compared to the 85,297 cases recorded during the same period in 2024. During the 35th epidemiological week of 2025, weekly case numbers dropped by 12.8%, with 594 new cases reported.
Malaysian health authorities have intensified genomic surveillance to track and contain the spread of new variants.
The XFG variant was first detected in India in June 2025. Former ICMR Director-General Dr. Balram Bhargava said the variant carries mutations that may enhance its ability to bind to human cells and evade immune defences. “The emergence of the XFG variant is part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s natural evolution,” he added.
