KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 13 -- Around 6,000 school students across the country have been infected with the influenza virus, prompting several schools to close temporarily on the advice of their respective District Health Offices (PKD).

Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the Education Ministry (KPM) is in close contact with the Health Ministry (KKM) to monitor the situation and will comply with any decision to close schools for the safety of students and staff, reported Kosmo! Online.

However, he did not specify the exact number of schools affected by the temporary closures.

"We've asked officers from the Examination Board to be on standby as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams are set to begin on November 3.

"As of now,...