Swine flu outbreaks at Leicester schools
Hundreds of people in Leicester are believed to have swine flu, it emerged today.
Public health officials said it was no longer possible to contain the spread of the infection in the city.
However, they are urging people not to panic.
Three schools are known to have been hit by the virus.
There are three confirmed cases at Moat Community College, Highfields, four at Lancaster School, West Knighton, and one at the City of Leicester College, Evington.
About 15% of pupils at Lancaster and Moat are off school with suspected swine flu, though those cases are not confirmed. Staff have also been affected.
The students confirmed as having swine flu are at home and are responding well to treatment.
The schools are staying open. There are now 136 confirmed cases of swine flu in the East Midlands – about 20 of which are in Leicester.
However, Health Protection Agency (HPA) officials say the number is the tip of an iceberg.
One health official told the Mercury that “hundreds” of people in the city were believed to have the infection.
Dr Philip Monk, a public health consultant with the HPA, urged people to “be sensible”.
He said: “It is important people realise we now have swine flu in Leicester. People should not panic, but they should be sensible and take precautions, such as good hygiene.
“There is evidence swine flu is spreading, particularly at Moat Community College and Lancaster School, where there are high absentee rates of pupils that have the flu. This is more widespread than we thought.”
He said although there were cases in the rest of Leicestershire, there was no sustained spread.
Dr Monk stressed that the health advice remained that people who had symptoms, which include a temperature of more than 38 degrees centigrade for more than a day, should ring their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for advice and treatment.
Deb Watson, director of public health for NHS Leicester City, said: “The pupils with flu are at home and are responding well to treatment. We are in constant contact with the HPA and. taking into consideration the facts, it has been recommended that the schools should stay open.”
This was detailed in a letter handed out to pupils yesterday at the affected schools.
Sensible
One senior member of staff at Lancaster said: “We are not panicking and the boys do not seem to be. We are being very sensible and if the pupils are not feeling well we are taking the necessary precautions.
“The head is in contact with the appropriate bodies on an hourly basis.”
Meanwhile, a “small” number of staff at Leicestershire police headquarters, in Enderby, are infected. A force spokeswoman said the illnesses would have no effect on policing.
She said: “A small number of staff within a specialist department have been confirmed as having swine flu. They are recovering at home.
“People who may have been in contact with the individuals have been notified and due to the role of those affected, it is likely there will have only been limited contact with other officers and staff, and members of the public.”
37 Comments
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by Raggy, Lesta
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 1:41PM
“Why are schools not closed down ? 50% of one college have got it.... So i think summer holidays come again and every one should get them selfs checked out. The simple way to solve this matter.”
by student at madani, evington leicester
Friday, July 03 2009, 10:41AM
“the amount of students not coming 2 skwl from madani is being hidden so he authorities dont close down”
by sal, leicester
Thursday, July 02 2009, 2:33PM
“and yes the typo was a mistake as im not perfect im happy to admit it!!! so kill me!!!”
by sal, leicester
Thursday, July 02 2009, 2:31PM
“how sad it is that people on hear are so ignorant that they can pull up people with spelling mistakes. they made fair comment did they not??you must be perfect to make such comments i feel!! well done all who have commented i for one am glad of your imput and encourage you to continue and ignore the ignorance of those whom believe that being able to spell makes them better than the rest!!! i hope your children never struggle with learning!!!”
by Kate, Coalville
Thursday, July 02 2009, 1:23PM
“A, - I suspect many of these kids are only on this site and reading this story because it's to do with their school.
It's all very well saying how great it is that young people are taking the time to contribute to the paper, but it's no use having an opinion if you don't possess the skills to communicate that opinion.
Anyway, you were completely right in saying that this is off-topic, but I was just so shocked that I had to comment.”
by sophie, leicester (saffron lane)
Thursday, July 02 2009, 1:23PM
“this is really scary yanoe,
ii go jhonny north
nxt to lancaster ,
for those who dint no lmao
i dont wanna get this & well its likly some people in my school will get this with the amouth of people who come in are school for lancster doing diffrent lessons that they take in are school like drama andd art things like that they shud shut the school both schools for health and safty before things get any worse cuz this swine flu is spreeding rather fast”
by Graham, Whetstone
Thursday, July 02 2009, 1:20PM
“I'm amazed - it doesn't usually take much of an excuse to close the schools but even with the (impending) swine flu pandemic they've stayed open... wow!”
by A, Leicester
Thursday, July 02 2009, 12:41PM
“Why dont we just sweep away this whole story and replace it with the clearly much more entertaining "Eleven year old in typo shock".
I wonder how many of the mocking adults here actually contributed opinions to their local paper when they were at school? It seems that these young people have learned something of value.
The TXTing generation may not care much for grammar, but it does not mean we should disregard what they have to say.”
by Dav, Leicestershire
Thursday, July 02 2009, 12:39PM
“Call the NHS help line for advice. Or look on the website, or call your local GPs for help about the risks of the flu when pregnant simple.”
by margaret, canada
Thursday, July 02 2009, 12:37PM
“this pandemic scare is getting a bit too much. ok it can be a killer and it is spreading like 'the flu' does every year, and it is going global, but it's the flu. people get sick . people get better. some get sicker than others ....
what is needed is an awareness for better hygiene - that should be the norm, but antibacterial stuff isn't going to help - this is viral.
unless tested, an ailment could be anything. every winter people blame the sniffles on 'the flu' , stay at home and it never gets counted as one thing or another.
has anyone compared the numbers of either sickness or death by ordinary flu v swine flu? think you'll find there are many more deaths every year by the flu than there is from swine flu or any of the other threats we've had recently ...
remember avian flu? another major scare
in canada (2003) we had SARS so we're more prepared for this type of thing. we are also getting the scare tactics of the press, but this is nothing compared to the SARS epidemic.
we also had schools, work force etc listed as having higher than normal absentees - what do they expect when they're told to stay at home if you're sick .... it's an excuse for some to do just that
just be sensible, but be prepared . .. rather than scared”