ANOTHER army camp, this time at Pulau Tekong, has been named as a new Influenza A H1N1 cluster, even as a second polytechnic has been hit by the virus.

In its update on Friday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported three new confirmed cases at the Pulau Tekong Camp, all of whom are full-time National Servicemen. Meanwhile, Maju Camp reported another four cases, bringing its tally of confirmed cases to 12.

Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) also confirmed on Friday its first H1N1 case, a first-year student who contracted the flu from her boyfriend who works at Butter Factory, a nightspot that had been earlier identified as an H1N1 cluster. The new case at NYP comes as more students at Republic Polytechnic (RP) - also an identified cluster - tested positive.

In all, 50 new confirmed cases were reported on Friday, raising the national tally to 365.

The NYP student who caught the virus from her boyfriend was discharged from the Communicable Diseases Centre on Thursday and is on home quarantine until Tuesday. Nine other students have come into close contact with her, the NYP said. They are reported to be well and have been instructed by the polytechnic to take a leave of absence until Monday.

NYP has been in recess for the last two weeks, but when term begins on Monday, its 15,000 students will be taking their lessons online at least for a week. An NYP spokesperson said the decision was a precautionary measure and not a direct response to any confirmed H1N1 cases. Classes on campus will resume on July 6.

Meanwhile, RP said on Friday that 13 more students had tested positive for H1N1, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the polytechnic to 31, reported 938Live. The MOH confirmed only eight new cases at RP in its update; it had not finished investigating the new cases.

RP said all staff and students at the polytechnic are required to take their temperatures twice daily and declare the readings online.

Students or staff who have visited countries with sustained H1N1 community spread have also been advised to stay away from the polytechnic for seven days from their date of return and to monitor their health.

Earlier this week, 4,500 mostly first-year students and 16 staff were told to stay away for seven days from RP, after it was identified as a cluster. They have been learning online and classes on campus are expected to resume next Wednesday.

TODAY understands that RP might consider extending its e-learning lessons to all its 12,000 next week.

Over at RiverLife Church, there will be no meetings or any

church-based programmes this weekend, after a cluster of 10 cases was reported there on Monday. Instead, a pre-recorded service will be provided at the church website. Church service will resume on July 5.

And the 17 members from the Hong Kong football team - here for the Asian Youth Games - will end their quarantine this Saturday at 8am. They have been staying at the Aloha resort in Loyang, after four of their teammates showed up positive for H1N1 when tested last Sunday.

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