Turkey: school closures due to flu

[Gert van der Hoek]

google translated

First closure of a school because of influenza H1N1 in Turkey

ANKARA - The Turkish Ministry of Health for the first time in Turkey announced on Wednesday the temporary closure of a school after the detection of influenza H1N1, reported the Anatolia news agency.

The property, a primary school in Ankara, was closed for a week due to the spread of the virus, contracted by a student during a stay abroad, three of his comrades, the ministry said.

The 500 students were sent home, where tests are performed to detect a possible infection, said Ankara Governor Kemal ?nal, also quoted by Anatolia.

The new infections bring to 480 the number of cases of influenza H1N1 detected in Turkey, among which 163 Turkish citizens - (the majority of carriers identified are foreign tourists). No fatal case has been listed.

The Turkish authorities provide free vaccination of 28 million people. Last week, the Minister of Health Recep Akdag has presented projections until 5300 considering dead in Turkey if no preventive action was taken, 400 deaths where "all necessary measures" would be applied.

Akdag said that his Ministry had signed agreements to purchase 40 million doses of vaccine and was about to be ordered three million more. The first deliveries were scheduled for October.

Globally, deaths in 4675 influenza pandemic have been identified so far.

October 14, 2009

http://www.romandie.com/ats/news/091014083758.xszzob8h.asp

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Turkey : First closure of a school because of influenza H1N1

Re: Turkey : First closure of a school because of influenza H1N1

Swine flu causes alarm with up to 7 cases in Ankara


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

ANKARA - H?rriyet Daily News

A swine flu outbreak in a primary school causes alarm in the capital as four students are diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. Three more are suspected of being infected while all of the school's 500 students will undergo medical examinations, Gov. Kemal ?nal says

Ankara woke up to alarm bells Wednesday morning because of the pandemic H1N1 flu, also known as swine flu. Four students at a primary school located on the campus of Bilkent University in Ankara have been diagnosed with the virus, the Health Ministry said.

The swine flu outbreak caused alarm after 20 out of the 35 students who participated in a trip to Scotland were hospitalized with symptoms. The laboratory has confirmed four cases so far, but three others are suspected of carrying the same virus, Gov. Kemal ?nal told reporters.

The students at the school have been given a seven-day holiday to prevent the spread of the flu to other students. ?We received initial positive results at 1 a.m. and decided to suspend school operations because of the risk of a spread at the school,? ?nal said. ?We?ll review the situation at the end of the initial holiday.?

Disinfection teams from the municipality also rushed into the school building to prevent more cases. All 500 students at the school will undergo a medical examination.

?The medical teams, set up in cooperation between the local health authority and the school administration, have begun visiting all 500 students at their homes,? ?nal said. ?They will provide treatment if necessary.?

The situation is controlled by the Health Ministry, said Abdullah Atalar, vice rector of Bilkent University. ?The children diagnosed with the H1N1 flu are resting at home. There is no need to worry about them as there is no serious risk. I have been informed that they will recover within two to three days,? he said.

Education Minister Nimet ?ubuk?u recently expressed concern about an outbreak of swine flu and suggested that education might be continued by television from home if outbreaks persist ? a possibility in December, she noted.

As part of the precautions, a group of teachers will be given specific training about the H1N1 virus to inform their colleagues and students. Information brochures will also be hung on school walls.

Health Minister Recep Akdağ alarmed the public a week ago, when he said, ?In case of a swine flu outbreak, 1 billion people may be infected.? Akdağ disclosed their preparations for the best and worst scenarios Turkey may face.

The government will buy 40 million units of the vaccine. Pilgrims to Mecca and students are advised to take the vaccine first.

According to the worst case scenario, 21 million people may be infected, and 5,300 of them might die. But the best case scenario is not particularly promising, either. It estimates that at least 1.8 million people will be infected while 400 people will die.

The pandemic H1N1 flu has higher infection rates among children, yet the thermal cameras installed airports like Esenboğa in Ankara cannot prevent all those infected with the virus from entering the country, since people can carry swine flu for 24 hours before showing symptoms.

According to official statistics, 480 people have been diagnosed with swine flu in Turkey. Tourists consist of the majority although 163 Turks contracted the virus during visits abroad.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n....alarm-with-up-to-7-cases-in-ankara-2009-10-14

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Turkey: school closures due to flu

Source: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/heal...onal-17/1255967719169370.xml&storylist=health

Turkey shuts schools following swine flu outbreak
10/19/2009, 11:11 a.m. EDT
The Associated Press

(AP) ? ANKARA, Turkey - Health authorities have shut down all schools in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir following outbreaks of swine flu.

The local health authority in Diyarbakir on Monday ordered the schools to close for one week, beginning Tuesday. The Health Ministry says the measure was taken after six students and an adult tested positive for swine flu in two schools.

Last week, authorities shut down a secondary school in the capital, Ankara, after an outbreak there.