Staffordshire school info - flu not affecting children and young adults

[kiwibird]

Swine Flu: Parents call for school to be closed
Tuesday, June 09, 2009, 09:20

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WORRIED parents were refusing to send their children to classes today after a member of staff at a high school contracted swine flu.

The case at Edensor Technology College, in Longton, is the first to be confirmed in North Staffordshire.

It is understood the staff member contracted the virus on a trip abroad. They are now recovering at home and have been treated with anti-viral drugs.

Several close contacts have also been given tablets, but no further cases have been identified at Edensor, which has 1,000 pupils.

The authorities were informed of a suspected swine flu case at the weekend and carried out a full risk assessment.
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Headteacher Richard Mercer, acting on advice from the Health Protection Agency, decided not to shut the school.

But some families have opted not to send their children to lessons.

Sharon Sales, from Fenton, said she would be keeping her 12-year-old son at home until the matter has been resolved.

The 31-year-old said: "I think everyone should be given the medication. My son may have been around these people."

Steve Coysh, from Fenton, whose daughter Jessica is in Year Nine at Edensor, said: "The school should be shut down. My daughter won't be going to school until they make sure it is completely clean."

Edensor Technology College wouldn't comment to The Sentinel . But in a letter sent to parents, Mr Mercer said the member of staff was recovering well.

The letter said: "The current view is that the influenza caused by this virus is generally not severe and that children and young adults are not the predominant age groups to be affected."

Health officials would not confirm which country the patient had recently visited.

An NHS spokesman for Staffordshire said: "There is no public health need for the school to close at present.

"However, it is important for people to remain vigilant."

At least six English schools have closed due to swine flu outbreaks.

A Health Protection Agency spokesman said: "We provide advice on whether a school should close. It is always the headteacher who makes the decision.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...ol-closed/article-1061475-detail/article.html

This may be one of the most ill informed head teachers I have heard of!

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Staffordshire school info - flu not affecting children and young adults

HPA advice on actions to be taken in a school in the event of a probable or confirmed case of ?swine flu? being identified in a school pupil

http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1241180226578

 

[HenryN]

Re: Staffordshire school info - flu not affecting children and young adults

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...ol-closed/article-1061475-detail/article.html

This may be one of the most ill informed head teachers I have heard of!

In England, agencies have created a fantasy stating that H1N1 cases are from imports (and can be controled by screening arrivals and using Tamiflu blankets). Consequently, testing of patienst with flu-like symptoms is minimal, and an EXTREMELY biased database is generate.

This fantasy is widespread thoughout most of the world outside of North America, as the virus gathers steam and agencies propagate hopes and dreams.