Swine flu confirmed at Vancouver school

[Pathfinder]

Swine flu confirmed at Vancouver school


Tue Sep 8, 10:32 PM

OTTAWA (CBC) - Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed Tuesday that swine flu has been detected in one student at St. George's School in Vancouver, a boys' school, and other pupils are showing flu-like symptoms.

"We've certainly had evidence the virus has continued to circulate in Vancouver and B.C. at low levels," she said.

"Over the last number of months, we have some evidence for example, among kids of this age who went to summer camps that there were some cases occurring. But it's not cause for concern. We expected that when students went back to school that there might be some transmission in the school setting."

In an email sent to parents, St. George's said all staff remained on duty and the school has a large supply of Tamiflu antiviral tablets. Vaccines will be used when available.

The school's website, however, clarified that the Tamiflu supply is for boarders and boarding staff only and suggested that parents of day students may wish to talk to their family doctors about getting their own Tamiflu.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/090908/science/canada_britishcolumbia_bc_vancouver_swine_flu_st_georges_boys

[Pathfinder]

Re: Swine flu confirmed at Vancouver school

Saturday 12th September

14 students at St. George?s school being treated with Tamiflu

VANCOUVER ?

Upwards of 14 boys at St. George?s private school in Vancouver are being given Tamiflu to counter flu-like illness but the school has not said if the children have been tested for Swine Flu.

Boarding facilities at the private St. George?s school will remain closed until Friday evening in the wake of a Swine Flu infection.

One boy who tested positive for Swine Flu is well and will return to class, headmaster Nigel Toy said in a memo to parents.

He also reports ?many? of the boarding students have returned to day class while absenteeism from day classes are at between one and two per cent.

?As of 9:00 am this morning (Thursday), the Nurse?s Office was reporting that there are upwards of 14 boys who have the flu and are being treated with Tamiflu. The boy who tested positive for H1N1 has recovered and will return to school,? the memo said.

Why the boys are being given Tamiflu is not clear either ? as most seasonal flu cases recover on their own and Tamiflu is not generally used as a preventive tool for Swine Flu.

Toy says those students who are healthy may return to class as day students and can move back into the residences as of Friday evening.

Students returning to school who were boarders are to report to the nurse, he said.

In a previous press release, Toy said one student had a confirmed case of Swine Flu and ?according to the School?s doctor, there appear to be two other boarding students who probably have H1N1. As well, an additional six boarding students have mild flu-like symptoms.?

?The prime concern of the School is for the welfare of all involved in the Boarding Community,? said the headmaster.

?As well, to ensure there is no spread in the School?s Day Boy population, the decision was made to ask all boarders to remain at home or with guardians until such time as the School?s doctor has determined that there is no further risk of H1N1 being spread,? Toy said.

No day students have shown symptoms of infection from the novel H1N1 virus, he said.

Last Monday, at least 7 student along with three suspected of having Swine Flu were being monitored. Whether the 14 cases being treated with Tamiflu are in addition to those was not stated in Toy?s memo on Thursday.

Authorities have recommended schools not be closed unless there is widespread infection. B.C. has reported four deaths and 44 hospitalizations from Swine Flu, while across Canada 73 people have died.

Authorities are not testing all flu like illnesses anymore. Instead they are reporting clusters of illness or deaths only.

Most of the boarding students are living at home or as guests with other families until the school boarding facilities open. Students may elect not to return to the boarding facility until Sunday evening.

Some children with high temperatures have been returned to their homes.

Health Authorities could not be reached Tuesday evening to confirm how many cases of flu like illness are actually lab confirmed to be cases of H1N1 novel virus also known as Swine Flu.

http://www.vancouverite.com/2009/09/11/14-students-being-treated-with-tamiflu-at-st-georges/