The Health Ministry has urged the people not to panic over the influenza-like illness (ILI) scare, instead they should be alert and take precautionary measures.

Its minister, Liow Tiong Lai said although the number of ILI

cases had increased, they were confined to Melaka, Selangor and Langkawi in Kedah.

Thirty-two students in Pahang were given outpatient treatment while in Selangor, 23 students are down with ILI, he said in a statement today.

He said only four students in Selangor were confirmed influenza H1N1

positive but they had since been discharged from hospitals.

In Kedah, he said 173 students were given outpatient treatment.

Until Monday, 118 new ILI patients were hospitalised while 65 more were discharged, reducing the number of patients to 507 in 47 government hospitals and 12 private hospitals.

Of them, 36 are confirmed influenza H1N1 patients, added Liow. - Bernama