School rash 'is probably a virus'

[ukcz]

School rash 'is probably a virus'

Last Updated: Tuesday, 7 February 2006, 16:48 GMT

Tests to establish the cause of a skin rash that has caused hundreds of pupils at a Pembrokeshire school to miss lessons have proved inconclusive.

But experts say they are confident they are dealing with a "mild illness", probably a virus, at Milford Haven.

Some 140 pupils were off school on Tuesday, down from more than 200 at the end of last week.

However, there have been reports of adults in the town with no connection to the school developing symptoms.

Dr Mac Walapu, consultant in communicable disease control with the National Public Health Service for Wales, said people should be reassured there was no need for "undue concern".

"The tests we have carried out with school pupils have not confirmed the infection we are dealing with," he said.

"However, all the evidence leads me to be confident that we are dealing with a mild illness, probably a virus."

He said the rash was most likely caused by infection with a number of children showing classic signs of the "slapped cheek" appearance of Fifth Disease infection, although that had yet to be confirmed by laboratory tests.

"Fifth Disease is usually a mild illness and resolves without medical treatment," said Dr Walapu.

As a precaution, he advised pregnant woman who came into contact with anyone displaying the symptoms to inform their midwife or obstetrician.

He added: "I am aware that there have been rumours circulating suggesting that the rash is due to exposure to environmental contaminants at the school. I am confident that this is not the cause.

"We are doing everything possible to identify the cause of the rash - people should be reassured that there is no need for undue concern."

Eleven pupils first showed signs of contracting the rash on 24 January with numbers affected peaking at over 200 last Friday.

Those who develop the rash were advised to stay away from school or work for at least 48 hours after the symptoms have disappeared.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4689932.stm

[ukcz]

200 off school with mystery rash (4 days earlier)

Last Updated: Friday, 3 February 2006, 14:39 GMT

200 off school with mystery rash
More than 200 pupils are now off school at a Pembrokeshire comprehensive after developing an unidentified skin rash, the county council said on Friday.

Health experts are trying to pinpoint the cause of the problem which has affected some pupils twice.

Initially, 11 pupils at Milford Haven School were affected and told to stay at home for 48 hours as a precaution, but dozens went on to develop the rash.

The National Public Health Service is liaising with the school over testing.

The rash is uncomfortable and you wouldn't want it, but no cause for public health concern
Chris Lines NPHS

Eleven pupils first showed signs of the itchy rash on 24 January.

Since the number has risen day by day and now over 200 are away from classes.

Virus
A Pembrokeshire Council spokeswoman said a number of students had appeared to have lost the rash, but it had reappeared after they returned to school.

"The school is obviously following medical advice from the National Public Health Service," he told BBC Wales' news website on Friday.

"They've done tests on some of the pupils and the results will be known next week.

"The pupils aren't physically ill, just a rash, and the medical advice remains to stay home from the school for at least 48 hours after the symptoms disappear."

He said there was no indication other local school were experiencing any similar cases.

Dr Mac Walapu, consultant in communicable disease control at the National Public Health Service (NPHS) for Wales, is working with the school to try to identify the cause of the rash.

NPHS spokesman Chris Lines said: "The rash is uncomfortable and you wouldn't want it, but no cause for public health concern."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4674962.stm

[ukcz]

Re: School rash 'is probably a virus'

Disease outbreaks sweep schools
Feb 9 2006
Robin Turner, Western Mail

HUNDREDS of pupils at schools across Wales are reeling from a wave of illnesses.

Suspected cases of meningitis have struck two 14-year-olds at Swansea's Birchgrove Comprehensive. Both have been admitted to the city's Morriston Hospital and are undergoing tests to determine if they have meningitis. Health officials have visited the school, which is still open, and antibiotics have been offered to children and staff.

Sara Hayes of the National Public Health service for Wales, said both teenagers were "doing well".

Further west at Pembrokeshire's Milford Haven Comprehensive School yesterday, 140 pupils were still off with red spots and itching skin. More than 200 pupils at the school have been affected by the distressing condition.

Rumours have circulated that environmental contaminants may be behind the outbreak of what until Tuesday was a mystery condition. But Dr Mac Walapu, consultant in communicable disease control at the National Public Health Service for Wales, shed some light on the worrying rashes yesterday.

He said, "A number of the children with the rash have the classic "slapped cheek" appearance of Fifth Disease infection, though this has yet to be confirmed by tests.

"Fifth Disease rashes are caused by a virus, and usually resolve within one week but may reappear for up to three weeks on exposure to sunlight and heat.

"Fifth Disease is usually a mild illness and resolves without medical treatment.

"As a precaution, though, pregnant women who have had close contact with someone with a rash are advised to tell their midwife or obstetrician, so that they can check their immunity."

The expert was planning to collect blood samples for further tests from some of the cases in the school yesterday to see if he could pin down the cause.

Dr Walapu said, "I am aware there have been rumours circulating suggesting the rash is due to exposure to environmental contaminants. I am confident that this is not the cause.

"We are doing everything possible to identify the cause of the rash. People should be reassured that there is no need for undue concern.

"Parents are advised that if their child develops the rash, they should keep him or her at home until the symptoms have gone."

Susan Rimmer, who has two sons at the school, is among parents who have complained the school should have been closed until the condition was identified.

Yesterday, more than 100 school children were estimated to be suffering from an outbreak of influenza type B which started at the beginning of February.

The National Public Health Service for Wales made the discovery after carrying out tests on samples collected at Caereinion High School, near Welshpool.

The first cases of influenza B were reported there two weeks ago when 200 pupils were initially struck down.

More than 12 schools in Powys were affected by the bug and yesterday a Powys council spokesman said, "It appears to be moving from north to south in the county.

"We still have a large number of pupils with influenza B but they are tending to be in small batches in a number of schools.

"We are keeping a close eye on the situation and liaising closely with the National Public Health Service."

Symptoms include gastric upsets, high temperatures and headaches.

Outside Powys, a dozen pupils at Cowbridge Comprehensive School in the Vale of Glamorgan were affected by the virus last week and pupils were reported to be still suffering the condition yesterday.

Dr Roland Salmon, head of the National Public Health Service for Wales, which monitors the spread of diseases across the nation, said, "Because it is a mild form of flu there are no accurate figures on how many people are affected, as they are not visiting their GP, but we know from reports that it is widespread.

"Flu does tend to survive and is more robust in cold and dry weather and that's just what we are getting at the moment."

At its height, influenza type B struck down 200 pupils at Caereinion High School in Llanfair Caereinion, which has 563 pupils altogether.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=16681667&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=disease-outbreaks-sweep-schools-name_page.html#story_continue

[ukcz]

Re: School rash 'is probably a virus'

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td class="heading">Mysterious Rash Strikes Milford School</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheading">03 February 2006 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheading">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheading"><hr noshade="noshade" size="1"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" width="98%"> <tbody><tr> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
<table style="background-position: 0% 50%; background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; width: 280px; background-repeat: repeat; border-collapse: collapse;" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 3px;" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 3px;" valign="top">A mysterious skin rash is rife at Milford Haven School</td></tr></tbody></table>MORE than 100 Milford Haven pupils have been sent home from school this week after breaking out in mysterious rash.


Pupils at the school have been suffering from an unexplained red and itchy rash since January 24^th. In the last week and a half there have been over 140 cases of the rash which has affected students and staff alike.


The mysterious outbreak began on January 24^th, when 11 pupils were sent home after being examined by the school nurse and GPs.


All pupils with the rash have been advised to stay home for 48 hours after their symptoms clear up but this does not seemed to have prevented the symptoms from spreading.


By the end of last week more than 50 children and two learning support assistants had been sent home with the rash.


After the weekend the inflammation and irritation continued unabated, with 36 more cases detected on Monday, a further 43 on Wednesday and 36 more yesterday.


The school is working with consultant in communicable disease control at the National Public Health Service (NPHS) for Wales, Dr Mac Walapu, in an attempt to discover the origin of the rash.


Results of tests, carried out to ascertain if its origin could be viral are expected next week.


"The rash is uncomfortable and you wouldn't want it, but no cause for public health concern," said NHPS spokesman Chris Lines.

http://www.pembrokeshiretv.com/content/templates/v6-article.asp?articleid=1379&zoneid=32

</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[ukcz]

Re: School rash 'is probably a virus'

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td class="heading">Milford Haven Rash Probably A Mild Virus Say Experts.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheading">08 February 2006 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheading">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subheading"><hr noshade="noshade" size="1"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" width="98%"> <tbody><tr> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table style="background-position: 0% 50%; background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; width: 280px; background-repeat: repeat; border-collapse: collapse;" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 3px;" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding: 3px;" valign="top">Milford schoolchildren displayed the classic "slapped cheek" appearance of Fifth Disease.</td></tr></tbody></table>HEALTH experts believe the rash that spread through a county school last week was probably a mild virus.<o =""></o>
<o =""></o>
Parents should not be unduly concerned, the experts said, despite 140 pupils and staff being forced to abandon the classrooms at Milford Haven Comprehensive.<o ="">

</o> Tests on those infected have proved inconclusive, but a consultant in communicable diseases at the National Public Health Service for <st1:country-region><st1 ="">Wales</st1></st1:country-region> dismissed environmental contamination as the cause.<o ="">

</o> Dr Mac Walapu said he believed the outbreak was possibly Fifth Disease ? a childhood viral illness which tests have shown infects up to 60% of the world?s population, often without ever being spotted.<o ="">

</o> "The tests we have carried out with school pupils have not confirmed the infection we are dealing with," said Dr Walapu. <o ="">

</o> "However, all the evidence leads me to be confident that we are dealing with a mild illness, probably a virus."

"I am aware that there have been rumours circulating suggesting that the rash is due to exposure to environmental contaminants at the school. I am confident that this is not the cause.

"We are doing everything possible to identify the cause of the rash - people should be reassured that there is no need for undue concern."

Mr Walapu said a number of the infected children had shown the classic ?slapped cheek? appearance of Fifth Disease.

"Fifth Disease is usually a mild illness and resolves without medical treatment," said Dr Walapu.

Although Fifth Disease is associated with children aged between five and 15, rumours are circulating around the town that some adults have also been infected.<o ="">
</o><o =""></o>
Pregnant women are urged to contact their midwife if they show signs of infection.

Those who develop the rash were advised to stay away from school or work for at least 48 hours after the symptoms have disappeared.

Fifth Disease is caused by parovirus B19. Symptoms include a low-grade fever headache and mild cold-like symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose. These symptoms pass, and the illness seems to be gone until a rash appears a few days later.
<o =""></o>
The bright red rash typically begins on the face. Several days later, the rash spreads and red blotches (usually lighter in colour) extend down to the trunk, arms, and legs. The rash usually spares the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. As the centres of the blotches begin to clear, the rash takes on a lacy net-like appearance. Children younger than 10 years of age are most likely to get the rash.

Fifth disease is so named because historically it was considered one of the five classic rash-associated infections among children ? the others being measles, scarlet fever, rubella and a now unknown infection known simply as Fourth Disease.

http://www.pembrokeshiretv.com/conte...articleid=1412

</td></tr></tbody> </table>

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Flu B in Isle of Man

HEALTH CHIEFS IN FLU PLEA
PARENTS are being urged to keep their children away from school if they have the flu.


Public health consultant Dr Parameswaran Kishore confirmed the outbreak of Influenza B affecting the UK has arrived in the Island.

A third of Scoill Phurt le Moirrey's pupils are ill and, in England and Wales, the infection has spread to 60 schools.

Although tests done in the UK show the flu strain is slightly changed from the virus seen in recent years, Dr Kishore said it was likely to be close enough for the jabs available at the moment to provide protection.

'It is well known for Influenza Type B to peak every two to three years,' explained Dr Kishore. 'Influenza B is milder than Influenza A.

'The symptoms are fever, headache, sore throat with a small number of cases experiencing diarrhoea, vomiting or both. The illness lasts for two to seven days. There is no specific treatment apart from rest, plenty of fluids and paracetamol.

'Can all parents throughout the Island please refrain from sending their children to school if they have symptoms of flu?'

In today's Examiner, Dr Kishore warns of a 'winter of misery'.
06 February 2006

http://www.iomonline.co.im/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=870&ArticleID=1340287

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Earlier 'flu' bug

Bug rips through school <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> </table> <table class="headerTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width=""> <tbody><tr><td>Jan 20 2006

</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Exclusive By Hywel Trewyn, Daily Post
</td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="400"> <tbody> <tr><td colspan="3">

A FLU bug has been blamed for felling 289 pupils at a North Wales high school.

And there were fears the virus, already spreading like wildfire, could jump to other schools in Anglesey and Gwynedd.

But health bosses calmed concerns it could mutate into the deadly bird flu, which killed youngsters in Turkey and Asia.

Sixth-formers at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni were first struck by the flu, with dozens complaining of headaches and high temperatures.

The illness spread quickly. Last night, a third of the school's 770 pupils plus two teachers were said to be off sick.

Health bosses insisted the symptoms appeared to be "mild".

National Public Health Service for Wales spokesman Chris Lines advised anyone feeling unwell to stay at home but if the symptoms, headaches and colds, persisted, they should get in touch with their GP.

Mr Lines said the illness was "the sort of illness not unusual at this time of year."

He did not rule out the flu spreading to nearby schools and beyond.

However, he insisted it was not connected to the deadly bird flu which caused deaths in Turkey and China especially.

Mr Lines conceded the number of cases was unusually high.

He said: "Public health nurses are in touch with schools. These things always start during the winter and it is common to find illnesses around Britain."

Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni governor and Plaid Cymru councillor Fflur Mai Hughes said: "My son is one of the ones affected. It's a sort of virus which has affected some of his friends as well.

"The symptoms have been colds, flu and high temperatures. My son has been off school for two days but will be going back tomorrow."

Her son, who is in Year 11, never normally suffers with colds.

Mum-of-three Mrs Hughes added: "He hasn't been ill enough to go to the doctor."

Anglesey Council education portfolio holder John Meirion Davies from Menai Bridge said:

"It sounds a significant percentage of pupils have been affected. Problems for the school could get worse if more teachers are affected."

Although no external examinations were being held at the school, missing school could affect the pupils' work as they are continually assessed, he added.

School head Haydn Davies was not available for comment last night.

</td></tr></tbody> </table>

http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html

[ukcz]

Boil water notice finally lifted (30 Jan 2005)

Last Updated: Monday, 30 January 2006, 09:01 GMT

Boil water notice finally lifted

Thousands of people in north Wales can stop boiling their drinking water two months after the area was affected by an outbreak of stomach illness.

Health officials announced on Monday that the cryptosporidium outbreak in Anglesey and Gwynedd was over.

A total of 231 people whose water came from the Cwellyn reservoir in Snowdonia caught the bug, it was confirmed.

Welsh Water customers affected by the outbreak will receive a ?25 cheque towards the inconvenience.

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water said it was pleased customers were no longer being inconvenienced.

'Massive inconvenience'
Managing director Nigel Annett said: "In the exceptional circumstances of this outbreak we decided to install the new equipment as an added precautionary measure. We are now sure that it is safe to lift the boil water notice."

But he said Welsh Water had not "done anything wrong".

He said: "The water treatment works and our water supply system has been operating perfectly normally throughout the whole period.

"But we did recognise that asking people - under advice from the health experts - to boil their water for drinking purposes over Christmas and new year was a massive inconvenience and a massive cost."

The company said the ?25 payment offered to customers was not an indication of any breach in quality standards, but was the average price of water for two months.

Seventy thousand people were originally told to boil their drinking water or take bottled supplies when the first cases emerged in November.

The order was due to have been lifted earlier this month but that was delayed while improvements were made to the water treatment works at Cwellyn.

The outbreak control team said all the 231 cases have been directly linked to this outbreak.

There have been no new cases of the bug detected in the last two weeks.

In a statement, the control team also said: "All the available evidence and expert opinion point to Llyn Cwellyn being the probable source of the outbreak. There is no alternative explanation."

Mark Bartlett, who runs the Gwynedd hotel in Llanberis, said the last few months had been "extremely difficult".

Public health
He told BBC Radio Wales: "It's small things that people don't even think about. For instance Coca-cola and lemonade on tap: you can't use those because they're coming straight out of the mains water.

"Even cleaning out your beer pipes. Imagine how much water you have to pre-boil to clear nine or 10 lines of beer. We get through gallons and gallons of water."

He said sales of spirits and shorts had dropped by 90% because people could not have ice in their drinks and estimated he had lost "several thousand" pounds during the outbreak.

Mr Annett said they would talk to customers like Mr Bartlett to see what the company could do to help.

He added: "By and large this was a public health problem which might or might or might not have implicated the water supply and we had to do the right thing to protect to public health."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/4655234.stm

[ukcz]

Warning over flu outbreak (Richmond, Surrey)

Warning over flu outbreak
By Sarah Woods
4:33pm Friday 10th February 2006

A LARGE number of pupils in the borough have been struck down with a flu virus and the Health Protection Agency is handing out guidance on how to deal with the infection.

Headteachers in Richmond are asking parents not to send their children to school until they are fully fit.

Many youngsters will have no immunity to the influenza B as there are normally very low levels of the virus.

A Richmond upon Thames Council spokesperson said: "No schools have been closed although there are a large number of pupils with a mixture of either sickness or flu symptoms.

"The council this week issued to all schools guidance provided by the Health Protection Agency on winter vomiting disease, highlighting the symptoms, how to avoid it, and what precautions people who have contracted it need to take."

There has been a nation wide increase of influenza B, which can spread rapidly in the community resulting in a large number of pupils off ill.

In most cases the symptoms are generally milder than those of the more common influenza A virus.

Dr Helen Maguire, consultant regional epidemiologist for the agency in London, said: "This year seems to be unusual in that much more influenza B is being detected than influenza A.

"The best way to treat this is to stay at home and rest as this will speed up recovery, take paracetamol to control temperature and aches and pains as necessary - but not aspirin for children - and drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids to replace fluid lost in sweating."

http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.687548.0.warning_over_flu_outbreak.php

[ukcz]

Re: School rash 'is probably a virus'

Hundreds of pupils absent with bug

Published on 07/02/2006

By Fiona MacLeod
Education reporter

HUNDREDS of children across Cumbria have been struck down by a winter vomiting bug.

Absence rates at the county?s primary and secondary schools are soaring due to the virus which causes sickness, diarrhoea, headaches and fever.

Stephen Fraser, headteacher of St Michael?s School in Dalston, said: ?In my 30 years of teaching it?s the worst I can remember.

?The older children ? the 10 and 11-year-olds ? caught the bug first and then they passed it onto their younger brothers and sisters.?

Fortunately the school, which has 210 pupils, avoided staffing problems.

The bug lasts between 24 to 48 hours.

Stewart Gimber, headteacher of Ullswater Community College in Penrith, added: ?Since Christmas attendance has dropped by about five per cent with students and staff affected by a number of bugs.

?Some of them seemed particularly hard to shake off. Normal lessons have continued in all the year groups, although I wish I had invested my savings in a supply agency.?

Martin Murphy, headteacher of St Aidan?s County High School in Carlisle, said his pupils had been affected but he believed they were coming through the worst of it now with attendance beginning to improve.

He told the News & Star: ?A couple of weeks ago the winter vomiting bug was more like just cold and flu.

?But we are coming through it now.

?At one stage we probably had about 20 per cent of some year groups affected.?

Suzie Shepherd, at Solway Community Technology College in Silloth, said: ?We have a high proportion of children absent compared to normal.

?We have about 90 per cent attendance at the moment ? we normally have 94 per cent.?

Upperby Primary School has also had children absent the past fortnight with flu and chicken pox.

Beacon Hill School in Aspatria has also been affected with a quarter of children absent last week.

And five teachers out of a school staff of 20 were also absent with the bug.

Lyn Murphy, a nurse with the Health Protection Agency, has advised parents to make sure their children regularly wash their hands to prevent the spread of the bug.

She said ill children should be kept away from school to prevent the spread of the bug.

Doctors say ill children should rest and drink plenty of fluids.

They should be symptom-free for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=328826

[ukcz]

Cambridgeshire

Teachers hope flu has peaked

TEACHERS in Saffron Walden are hoping the worst is over after a flu epidemic struck down 60 per cent of children at a secondary school.

Saffron Walden County High School was expected to reopen today (Tuesday, 07 February). It was forced to close yesterday (Monday, 06 February) after 1,200 staff and pupils called in sick on Friday with Influenza B.

The school, for pupils aged 11- 18, has a roll call of 2,000, and teachers felt it necessary to close temporarily to give staff and pupils time to recover after such huge numbers were away.

John Hartley, headteacher, said:

"We talked to the Health Authority last week and they felt the best thing we could do was give people an extra day off to give them as much time as possible to get over the illness.

"It is always regrettable to take this action but it seemed the prudent thing to do."

Primary schools in the town have seen an above-average level of illness, leaving teachers fearful of a similar outbreak.

St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, in Castle Street, had at least 22 children off yesterday (Monday, 06 February) and saw an "increase in absences since last week".

R A Butler Infant and Junior Schools, both in South Road, had 10 per cent of pupils off yesterday (Monday, 06 February) and St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, in South Road, had 12 pupils away.

Katherine Semar Infant School, in Ross Close, had 16 off but not all with the flu virus.

Mary Jo Hall, headteacher at St Thomas More, said yesterday (Monday, 06 February):

"Whether it will come here or not I don't know. I was aware last week there was more and more in the town but we have not been hit on the same scale as the County High School.

"It seems to be something that has affected teenagers more."

The Health Protection Agency is advising parents to keep ill children at home to avoid infecting others.

A spokesman said: "Those infected should keep warm, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol can also be used to relieve pain but aspirin should not be given to children under 16.

"The virus is not usually associated with complications but parents should seek advice from their GP if they are concerned about worsening symptoms."

07 February 2006

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/city/2006/02/07/d3a502d1-a9ad-477f-a005-235c04f5032a.lpf

[ukcz]

Norfolk

One third of pupils at two high schools struck by flu virus


Almost a third of the students at two West Norfolk high schools were off sick on Friday, after being struck by a flu virus.


Hundreds of pupils at Fakenham and Litcham have taken three to four days off school after complaining of high temperatures, nausea and aches and pains.

Headteachers said they have never seen a virus hit pupils so badly, and are concerned about how students will catch up on their work having missed so many lessons.

At Litcham, around 25 per cent were absent on Friday ? 145 out of 570 pupils.

Headteacher James Neale told the Lynn News: "That's a massive amount of students absent for us. "I haven't seen a bug like this before, not on this scale. It will be very difficult for teachers, who will have to go over the lessons again."

He said the virus had been a problem at the school for two weeks, and Friday's attendance was the worst so far.

And it was the younger students, aged 11 and 12, who were hit the hardest, Mr Neale said.

Yesterday, 16 per cent, or 93 pupils, were absent ? but four teachers had also called in sick with the virus.

Mr Neale said they had a couple of supply teachers to help, but otherwise staff were covering the absences internally.

There was similar misery at Fakenham, where only 33 per cent ? around 350 students out of 1,050 ? were at school on Friday.

The 12 and 13-year-olds in Year Eight were the worst affected, with only just over half ? 57.5 per cent ? in lessons.

Headteacher Richard Moore said: "I've not seen a virus of this kind before. We are missing about one in three children in the high school, but the college does not seem to be affected."

He said it had been a problem since Tuesday, when students began complaining of feeling ill.

None of the staff have so far been affected by the bug. Yesterday, attendance had improved, with 81 per cent of pupils attending school.

Mr Moore said the local doctors' surgery had suggested taking regular paracetamol, keeping cool with high temperatures, and drinking lots of fluid.

Mr Bob Rogers, acting headteacher at Gaywood's Park High, said 40 students out of 900 had to be sent home with the virus last week ? but yesterday attendance was back to normal.

Over 60 pupils were off sick out of 1,100 at Lynn's King Edward VII High yesterday ? compared with 15 last week.

Attendance at Spingwood High in Gaywood has been normal.

The national press reported last week that students from many secondary schools across the country had been hit by the flu virus Influenza B, and/or the winter vomiting bug, Norovirus.

Schools in Kent, Birmingham, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Essex and Wales were affected, and some of them had to close because so many pupils were absent.


07 February 2006

[ukcz]

Thousands of children struck down by vomiting bug and flu

February 04, 2006

Thousands of children struck down by vomiting bug and flu
By Tosin Sulaiman and Fran Yeoman

THOUSANDS of pupils missed school yesterday as outbreaks of the winter vomiting virus and flu spread across the country. At least sixty schools in three local authorities have reported being hit either by the norovirus or influenza B.

More than 20 schools in Birmingham, Sandwell and Dudley closed after staff and children suffered symptoms of the norovirus, including violent vomiting, diarrhoea and high fevers. Two schools in Gloucestershire have closed until Monday but no closures have been reported from Shropshire, Staffordshire and Solihull, where hundreds of children have fallen ill.

At Trinity Primary School, in Hereford, where locals have nicknamed the illness the ?black-eye bug?, Doug Lowe, the head teacher, said that 106 children, a third of his pupils, were off sick. Teachers, caretakers and support staff had also been taken ill.

?It?s affected everybody but mainly adults and the older end of the school, from years 4 to 6, rather than infants,? Mr Lowe said. ?They?re suffering from severe headaches, so much so that the children were coming to us crying. There were episodes of vomiting. They?ve got stomach pains. They have very white faces and their eyes look sunken in.?

Mr Lowe said that teaching had not been affected. ?We have still got sufficient staff to look after the welfare of the children. Children are actually having proper lessons.?

Specialist cleaning teams were called in to two schools in Gloucestershire to tackle the virus, which spreads where large numbers of people gather.

More than half the staff and 69 of the 450 children at Bishops Cleeve Primary School, near Cheltenham, were off sick on Thursday, when the decision was taken to shut the school, and the virus struck down two thirds of the staff and 70 pupils at Ashchurch Primary, in Tewkesbury.

Laurence Knight, of the Health Protection Agency, said: ?Two schools have closed and we are advising more than a dozen more in the Avon, Worcestershire and Wiltshire areas.? The advice included showing schools how to disinfect the contaminated areas.

Mr Knight added: ?These illnesses always spread quickly in schools because children are in close proximity to each other, which is why so many have been affected.?

Public health experts said that outbreaks in schools at this time of year were to be expected as there was always a peak of activity in winter.

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: ?Most children have been off school for two to four days, with only one child admitted to hospital.?

Parents are advised to ensure that sick children rest and drink plenty of fluids and are symptom-free for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2023743,00.html

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Bexhill

Schools hit by flu bug
SENIOR schools in Bexhill have been hit hard by the flu epidemic sweeping the country.
Student absences at Bexhill High School are double the usual for the time of year, with 12 teachers and 11 other members of staff also missing on Wednesday.

Head teacher Mike Conn told the Observer the school would have to close if more than 20 teachers were to go off sick, but with half - term starting next week the situation was "unlikely".

St Richard's Catholic College also confirmed it had more cases of illness than normal.
Schools across the area have been affected.

At Claverham, in Battle, more than 300 students have been recorded absent with illness.
Despite not reaching those proportions, the number of children off sick at the High School is unusually high.

Mr Conn said: "It's like we have been hit with a sledgehammer. We have got people here holding on by the skin of their teeth with illness.

"I am concerned about people coming in during the day because this isn't just a cold and it's highly contagious. People have literally been dropping down.

"If it got much worse then we would have to close the school. We are without 12 staff at the moment, if we lost 20 staff we wouldn't be able to cover the curriculum.

The only saving grace is that it's half-term next week and we are just holding on until then. What we need is a cold snap to get rid of this.

"We have got quite a lot off sick, but it's the staff who have been so tremendous and who are carrying on. They are so good and reliably coming in because they know they have got kids taking GCSE's."

A spokesman for St Richard's, speaking on behalf of principal Tony Campbell, said that absences were "slightly above normal for this time of year" but were nothing to be alarmed about.

"In no way are they causing concern or epidemic. It's a week before half term and we believe parents are playing it safe and keeping them home for a bit."

10 February 2006

http://www.bexhilltoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=494&ArticleID=1347933

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meningococcal septicaemia?

Mum's relief as meningitis baby recovers
A YOUNG mum has spoken of her relief after her baby son faced a critical 24 hours in hospital fighting the deadly meningococcal infection.


Eighteen-year-old Alex Connell was warned by hospital staff that it was a 'touch and go' situation for 15-month-old Logan.

But the toddler fought off the infection and this week returned to the Willows Day Nursery in Rastrick, which he has attended since he was seven-weeks old.

His mum, a project administrator at Marshalls at Lowfields, Elland, said because Logan didn't have all the classic symptoms related to meningitis she wanted to make other parents aware of her experiences.

She and her family, including her parents Paula and Mark Connell, who live in Longroyd Road, Rastrick, realised the outcome could have been very different.

"We know we could have lost him," said Alex. "We are all very relieved that he is back at home and going to nursery again."

The toddler had gone to nursery as normal on January 23 and showed no signs of being ill. He was picked up at 5.30pm when nursery staff said he had been tired and clingy.

"We didn't think there was any reason for concern until we realised he wasn't responding to his name, " said Alex. "He was acting in a weird way, his hands and feet were cold and his legs were mottled."

The family also noticed he was blinking at lights and knew there was something wrong. They took him to Huddersfield hospital where he was checked by staff.

"We were told his temperature was fine but when a light was shone in his eyes it was obvious he didn't like it," said Alex. "Logan was sick and after his tummy was examined we were told he had a tummy bug and to take him home."

Back at home Alex ran a bath for her son who was cold and shivering.
"Mum took him to another room and suddenly screamed because Logan was having a fit in her arms," said Alex.

"We tried to cool him down but he stopped breathing and went floppy. We dialled 999 and a neighbour came into help.

"The ambulance staff were giving us advice over the 'phone but Logan still wasn't breathing and they arranged for a paramedic to come before the ambulance. The paramedic got him breathing again and he was taken to hospital."

Back in the hospital Logan's temperature had risen and he had another fit. His veins were closing down and it was obvious the toddler was very poorly.

"A rash started to appear and his heart beat was very fast," said Alex.
"He was taken to the children's ward and the doctor told us he had meningococcal septicaemia. We were warned the next 24 hours were critical and it was touch and go."

Little Logan pulled through but for a couple of days he was in a dazed state. He also had no movement in his legs which medical staff said was reactive arthritis as a result of the infection. He was allowed home after 11 days and was still having problems with one of his legs.

"That should improve with time," said Alex. "We are just so pleased he is still with us."

She said staff at the Willows Nursery had been very supportive and so had her employers.

"I'm very grateful to everyone who helped Logan recover," she said.
A second child from the nursery with suspected meningococcal infection was out of hospital within three days. A spokeswoman for the Primary Care Trust said there had been no other reported cases.

The Meningitis Research Foundation said during winter months it was important to keep vigilant to the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia as cases were at their height.


09 February 2006

http://www.brighousetoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=986&ArticleID=1346223