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Source: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?f...4122912C167579
Swine flu on the rise in Cape schools
29 July 2009, 15:08
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By Ilse Fredericks and Niemah Davids
A Cape Town pupil and a Stellenbosch University student are the latest confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in the province.
On Tuesday Geoff Cohen, director of education at United Herzlia Schools, confirmed that a Grade 5 pupil had been booked off with the potentially deadly virus.
She is the second Herzlia pupil to contract the virus in the past week, but the two are in separate sections of the school.
A matric pupil was booked off last week with mild flu-like symptoms after returning from holiday in the US with her parents.
Cohen said that after the school's first confirmed case, he had issued a letter in line with guidelines presented by the Department of Health, asking parents to keep their children home for at least seven days if they had flu-like symptoms.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch University was told yesterday that a third student had contracted the H1N1 virus.
The student, a resident of the Heemstede residence, had spent the weekend at her parents' home and was hospitalised after she started feeling ill, the university said.
At the weekend, the university learnt that two other students, one from the Helderberg residence and the other from Heemstede, had contracted the virus.
The university previously said it suspected that a fourth student, who lives in private accommodation, had also contracted the virus, but this could not be confirmed yesterday.
Dr Pierre Viviers, the head of campus health services, said that according to information the university had received, there had been no serious complications in any of the confirmed cases.
"At this stage, there is no reason to panic.
"Students who experience any flu symptoms must ensure that they receive medical attention as soon as possible."
In addition, a pupil at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch who also contracted the virus is being treated at home and is doing "okay", said school rector Jannie van der Westhuizen.
The pupil, who lived in the hostel, had been absent since the end of last week.
Van der Westhuizen said only the one case at the school had been confirmed and that pupils had been advised to see a doctor if they did not feel well.
Faiza Steyn, spokesperson for the provincial Health Department, said there were 20 confirmed cases of the virus in the province to date.
But she said more cases were likely, since some private doctors might not report their suspected cases to the Department of Health.
Steyn added that no schools had reported any serious cases of the virus, making it unnecessary to close any institutions.
Paddy Attwell, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department, said guidelines on how to prevent the spread of infection had been provided by the Health Department and distributed to schools.
"We advise parents to keep their children at home if they contract any form of flu and to seek medical advice if they show typical signs and symptoms of H1N1 infection."
Asked about the protocol in the event of an outbreak at school, Attwell said two departments were developing protocols based on local and international practices, including those developed for H1N1 infection.
Dr Manoj Bagwandeen, head of campus health services at the University of the Western Cape, said he was not aware of any cases of swine flu reported there.
According to the UCT website, five students who were quarantined a few weeks ago have made full recoveries.
Swine flu on the rise in Cape schools
29 July 2009, 15:08
Related Articles
By Ilse Fredericks and Niemah Davids
A Cape Town pupil and a Stellenbosch University student are the latest confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in the province.
On Tuesday Geoff Cohen, director of education at United Herzlia Schools, confirmed that a Grade 5 pupil had been booked off with the potentially deadly virus.
She is the second Herzlia pupil to contract the virus in the past week, but the two are in separate sections of the school.
A matric pupil was booked off last week with mild flu-like symptoms after returning from holiday in the US with her parents.
Cohen said that after the school's first confirmed case, he had issued a letter in line with guidelines presented by the Department of Health, asking parents to keep their children home for at least seven days if they had flu-like symptoms.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch University was told yesterday that a third student had contracted the H1N1 virus.
The student, a resident of the Heemstede residence, had spent the weekend at her parents' home and was hospitalised after she started feeling ill, the university said.
At the weekend, the university learnt that two other students, one from the Helderberg residence and the other from Heemstede, had contracted the virus.
The university previously said it suspected that a fourth student, who lives in private accommodation, had also contracted the virus, but this could not be confirmed yesterday.
Dr Pierre Viviers, the head of campus health services, said that according to information the university had received, there had been no serious complications in any of the confirmed cases.
"At this stage, there is no reason to panic.
"Students who experience any flu symptoms must ensure that they receive medical attention as soon as possible."
In addition, a pupil at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch who also contracted the virus is being treated at home and is doing "okay", said school rector Jannie van der Westhuizen.
The pupil, who lived in the hostel, had been absent since the end of last week.
Van der Westhuizen said only the one case at the school had been confirmed and that pupils had been advised to see a doctor if they did not feel well.
Faiza Steyn, spokesperson for the provincial Health Department, said there were 20 confirmed cases of the virus in the province to date.
But she said more cases were likely, since some private doctors might not report their suspected cases to the Department of Health.
Steyn added that no schools had reported any serious cases of the virus, making it unnecessary to close any institutions.
Paddy Attwell, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department, said guidelines on how to prevent the spread of infection had been provided by the Health Department and distributed to schools.
"We advise parents to keep their children at home if they contract any form of flu and to seek medical advice if they show typical signs and symptoms of H1N1 infection."
Asked about the protocol in the event of an outbreak at school, Attwell said two departments were developing protocols based on local and international practices, including those developed for H1N1 infection.
Dr Manoj Bagwandeen, head of campus health services at the University of the Western Cape, said he was not aware of any cases of swine flu reported there.
According to the UCT website, five students who were quarantined a few weeks ago have made full recoveries.