KUALA KANGSAR, Jan 26 — Rumours of an H1N1 virus outbreak at a Perak primary school here saw the number of students absent increase from 26 to 102 in just 24 hours.

SJK Tsung Wah school headmistress Yeoh Kim Choon said that yesterday, 26 pupils out of a total student population of 582 were absent.

"Today, the number increased to 102,” she told reporters, adding that only two pupils in Standard Five from the school were down with the flu and resting at home.

The first pupil showed flu symptoms on January 19 and the second a day later, Yeoh said.

She said the school attendance rate was usually at about 95 per cent.

"But after the rumour of pupils down with H1N1, parents refrained from sending their children to school,” Yeoh said, adding that a memo has been issued to parents to allay their fears of a H1N1 virus outbreak.

"There is nothing to panic,” she said.

Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon had visited the school earlier today and confirmed that only two pupils were down with Influenza A.

"It is the common cold. There is nothing to worry about,” he told reporters and gave a reminder on the importance of maintaining good hygiene.