Oranmore school to remain open despite the Swine Flu

Date Published: 15-Sep-2009

A secondary school in Oranmore is to remain open after it held consultations with the HSE West following the news that six students at the school have been confirmed with Swine Flu.
And a case of Swine Flu is being investigated in a city primary school – the child is being treated at home and the authorities have been notified and swabs have been taken to establish if it is the H1N1 influenza.
The six students at Calasanctius College, Oranmore, who are being cared for at home, were diagnosed with the pandemic (H1N1) influenza following laboratory tests late last week.
They presented with fever, cough, sore throat, headache, runny or stuffy nose, body aches and fatigue. The HSE said in all cases the illness was mild.
A team from the Public Health Department of the HSE West visited the school to advise on control measures.
“The HSE West has been working closely with the school principal, teachers and pupils to minimise the risk of the spread of the flu. Based on advice from the HSE West Public Health Department, a decision was made by the school principal that the school would continue to function as normal,” a spokesperson for the HSE said.
The school is now following routine procedure to prevent the spread of flu within the school. This involves informing parents, staff and students and being on the watch for symptoms suggestive of flu. People with flu-like illness will be sent home as soon as possible and they have been advised to stay at home for seven days from the onset date, even if they feel better sooner.
The HSE West has also advised that there is no need for people who have been in contact with those already infected to stay away
from work or school unless they themselves develop symptoms.
Parents of students in a defined risk group should be particularly careful regarding symptoms and should contact their GP promptly if symptoms develop.
“The HSE West Public Health Team will continue to work closely with the school and is available to advise the school at all times,”# said Dr Diarmuid O’Donovan, Director of Public Health, HSE West.
“Parents of pupils attending the school are advised not to send children to school if they are sick. Staying at home when sick will allow a child to rest and allows carers to monitor their health closely. It also protects other children and staff members especially those at higher risk of severe illness from flu,” he said.
He said there were a number of these cases arising around the country and parents should be reassured that in the vast majority of cases, the illness is mild, children are treated at home and in most cases return to school within seven days.
In most of the cases, those who have the symptoms will not have the Swine Flu confirmed.