Four schools in city become first to be hit by swine flu
FOUR Derby schools have become the first in the city to have pupils diagnosed with swine flu.
They are Landau Forte College, in Fox Street, Homefields Primary, in Chellaston, and St John Fisher Catholic and Moorhead primary schools, both in Alvaston.
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Swine flu
The cases were confirmed yesterday afternoon and letters were sent out to parents informing them of the situation.
A Derby City Council spokesman said that the number of schools affected in the city was likely to grow during the next few days.
On Tuesday, 32 schools under Derbyshire County Council control were confirmed as having pupils with swine flu. But by last night, this had risen to 47, mainly in the east of the county.
None of the schools is expected to close and the Health Protection Agency has recommended that they stay open with just two weeks to go until the end of term.
Matthew Emery, head teacher at St John Fisher Catholic Primary, confirmed his school would not close.
He said: "It is all about treatment now because there are so many cases in the community that it will be difficult to avoid the illness.
"We have one case confirmed, although there have been a number of children off school this week.
"We had already put out a message about increased hygiene vigilance and are hoping to get through the rest of the term. Obviously, if the numbers of cases grew in the school, or staff became ill, we would have to consider closure."
At Moorhead Primary School, the pupil diagnosed with swine flu has been on holiday and not in lessons for several days.
Head teacher Myra Rogers said she had decided to write to parents to let them know so they were fully aware of the situation. "I have no reason to believe the pupil was infectious when he was last in school, but I didn't want to keep parents in the dark," she said.
One parent said: "I'm pleased the school has let us know what is happening and I'm not worried about my child going in to lessons.
"There's so much around now that it will be as easily caught in the community.
"We've been told that the pupil has received treatment and is recovering well."
Additional schools in the Derbyshire County Council area, which have been added to the growing list, include: Cotmanhay Infant School; Sawley Infant School; Alfreton Nursery School; Firfield Primary School, Breaston; Somerlea Infant School, Somercotes; Howitt Primary School, Heanor and Ashbrook Infant School, Borrowash.
Elsewhere, five hospital workers in Derby, who had tested positive for the illness a couple of weeks ago, returned to work earlier this week.
18 Comments
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by Shaan2, Derby
Friday, December 03 2010, 10:38AM
“Why does homefeids primely school have to be open there is snow and ice”
by Tripple Mum, Derby, Alvaston
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 8:41AM
“Boulton Primary has swine flu also. I've read a lot about this and now I'm confused. We can catch it everywhere. True. But maybe risk is lower when children are at home, play in the garden, don't go with us to shops. As long as we are clean, we can protect our children. I think my daugher won't do to school till September (if schools will be open then, because I readed that is possible to close schools in September if swine flu will be growing so fast).”
by pippalou17, derby
Thursday, July 09 2009, 2:41PM
“kids are going to get it even if there off schoolyou cant keep them locked up in the house there going to want to go to parks and play areas when there off or even catch it from parents when they ve been to work all you can do is keep clean and hope for the best.”
by Tracey Ace, Derby
Thursday, July 09 2009, 2:39PM
“So i take it nobody reads doctors findings on this flu?
Oh well the herd needs thinning anyways.Just to let you know flu infects the lungs and this flu infects other parts normal flu doesnt reach.It is not a normal strain.
And for those that think this is scaremongering tell it to the relatives of those already passed away.
Stay safe.”
by Not a happy Mummy, central Derby
Thursday, July 09 2009, 2:26PM
“Of course it is going to spread in public places but it isnt inevitable that every single person will catch it. I suggest closing the schools early as a possible way of trying to reduce numbers.
Unless you live life as a hermit there is no guarantee you wont catch it but I personally dont see the harm in closing schools slightly earlier than planned
And no I was made redundant from my role with a number of others from the company I worked for so I am at home for the time being.”
by jon, derby
Thursday, July 09 2009, 2:14PM
“I'll try again to rest my case:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5778295/Swine-flu-Government-is-scaremongering-say-leading-GPs.html”
by andy, derby
Thursday, July 09 2009, 2:06PM
“The virus is going to spread not only through schools but through work places, shopping centers, gyms. schools are just one of the areas. What would happen if everything closed down to stop it spreading? Instead of doing that children are being educated on ways of prevention.. much better than hysteria don't you think?
Do you work not a happy mummy? If you do then you have just as bigger chance of bringing it home into your familly as your child does.”
by Not a happy Mummy, central Derby
Thursday, July 09 2009, 1:47PM
“Exactly. You cant make a judgement on other peoples circumstances.
Personally if i had the choice I would keep my children off school and nursery still Sept from now, why should i have to send my kids to a school where there are confirmed cases. ??
Apparently all childcare providers are being warned of massive school closures in September by Ofsted already, why not try and pre empt some of this by allowing parents to use their judgement as to whether their child attends when there is a definate case.”
by parent, derby
Thursday, July 09 2009, 1:17PM
“I really hope neither my child nor I catch this as we both have asthma, relying on inhalers just to be able to breathe and hayfever so we would be in the catagory of having underlying health "problems". No I don't smoke, nor does anyone who visits us, before anyone asks. We both have to have the flu jab every year and my young son had to have the one for pnuemonia this year and he is still in primary school. Yes we are concerned and would hope our school would notify us of any cases and leave it to our judgement whether to keep them off school”
by Not a happy Mummy, Derby
Thursday, July 09 2009, 1:12PM
“nice comments K in Derby!
Clearly you dont have any children to be making comments like that, or indeed any humanity, shame on you
Why dont you try explaining your blase throw away comments to a parent who's child picks it up in school who then fetches it home to the newborn baby or the elderly frail relative who then becomes seriously ill.
I'm not for one second suggesting that the spread will stop if the schools close but these are less likely to be hundreds of kids sat together 5 days a week over the summer for the entire day instead of "congregating with their buddies" its a no brainer really
.”