pablomorgan
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A school in Bristol has been closed this afternoon after doctors warned a schoolgirl, returned from a holiday in Mexico, is likely to have swine flu.
The Year Seven pupil at Downend School in South Gloucestershire is now undergoing tests and frightened fellow students are being now checked for symptoms and given antiviral medication.
The school will remain closed for more than a week in order to help contain the virus.
Swine flu fears: Year Seven pupil Gareth Dawes leaves Downend School near Bristol wearing a face mask after a fellow student was thought to have swine flu
The fears over an outbreak in the West Country comes as an NHS worker was confirmed as being the first person in Britain to be infected with swine flu by human-to-human transmission.
All 210 pupils in the same year as the ill pupil have been given ten days of the anti-viral drug Tamoxifen as a precaution.
Graeme Pacitt
Graeme Pacitti who caught swine flu from newlywed Iain Askham
Tamryn Savage, headteacher of the 1,300-pupil school, has written to parents confirming the swine flu case.
In a letter given to pupils to take home today, Mrs Savage said the girl - who has recently returned from Mexico - was 'home and well'.
She wrote: 'I want to reassure you the school has taken all the necessary steps today and all the relevant agencies are involved.
'The Health Protection Agency has advised that the school should close with immediate effect and reopen again on Monday 11th May. This is to reduce the impact of any potential spread of the infection.
'The Health Protection Agency has identified those who have been in closer contact and will be offering them medication today. This has been offered this afternoon to all of Year Seven.
'Any pupils who show any sign of flu-like symptoms with a temperature, aches and pains and a cough should phone their family doctor for advice.'
Adele Dawes, 44, the mother of a Year Seven pupil at the school, said the situation was 'very concerning'.
Her son Gareth wore a face mask as he left the school today.
She said: 'Obviously the situation is very concerning, but the school dealt with it very well and everyone at the school seemed pretty calm.
'Everybody left in an orderly fashion and the school staff all did a good job.
'Of course I'm worried about the ripple effect, especially with children at school in such close contact, but there's no need to panic.'
Meanwhile, exam regulators, schools and universities are preparing for lessons and lectures to be canceled and exams to be sat in isolation.
Exams regulator Ofqual today said it was drawing up contingency plans in the even of disruption to the test and examination system said hundreds of thousands of teenagers could be forced to sit their GCSE exams in isolation from the rest of their school if a flu pandemic is declared.
Pupils who are sick with swine flu on the day of their exams could still be awarded a grade based on papers or coursework they have completed.
Universities and colleges have been encouraged to set up 'flu buddy' systems so those not affected by the virus could support those who were.
Paignton Community and Sports College in Devon has already been closed after a 12-year-old girl contracted the disease, after holidaying in Mexico.
Guidance is being issued after the first person fell victim of human-to-human transfer of swine flu in Britain. Graeme Pacitti, 24, fell ill after a night out with honeymooner Iain Askham who picked up the virus with his wife in Mexico.
It is feared the development could mark a potential tipping point on the road to a serious outbreak of swine flu here.
Until now, all eight British cases originated in Mexico and developed after holidaymakers returned home.
After the diagnosis was revealed, Mr Pacitti said he was 'gutted'.
'I saw Iain last Thursday, he wasn't showing any symptoms then. My friends thought he looked a bit tired but we thought it was just jet-lag,' he said.
'I've been feeling a lot better today than I have all week. I've still got an upset stomach and a sore throat. Earlier in the week I was having headaches and feeling feverish.'
The diagnosis was confirmed as the Department of Health announced another case in the North West, taking the overall toll in Britain to 10.
Meanwhile, a London student with the virus is said to be 'reacting very badly' and suffering from severe vomiting and the shakes.
The 22-year-old is being treated in isolation at the Royal Free Hospital in north London. Publicist Max Clifford, who is representing the family, said: 'He's in a bad way.'
There are fears people might have to avoid public events if the deadly outbreak continues to spread.
Iain and Dawn Askham
Transmission fears: Iain and Dawn Askham after leaving hospital. They may have passed on the virus to a friend before realising they were ill.
Professor Sir Roy Anderson, rector of Imperial College, London, declared today that a pandemic had already begun and the focus had to be on drug distribution.
People must heed warnings to use a tissue if they sneeze, not to touch their eyes, nose and mouth, to stay at home if feeling ill and to wash hands regularly, he said.
Although we are not at that point yet, 'there may well come a stage where one should avoid large public gatherings', he added.
Sir Roy said the disease was being transmitted in a sustained way in the US, and this would happen in other countries.
He said: 'The definition of phases five and six [of the WHO's pandemic alert scale] is somewhat irrelevant. A pandemic has started.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...le-pupil-feared-swine-flu-holiday-Mexico.html
The Year Seven pupil at Downend School in South Gloucestershire is now undergoing tests and frightened fellow students are being now checked for symptoms and given antiviral medication.
The school will remain closed for more than a week in order to help contain the virus.
Swine flu fears: Year Seven pupil Gareth Dawes leaves Downend School near Bristol wearing a face mask after a fellow student was thought to have swine flu
The fears over an outbreak in the West Country comes as an NHS worker was confirmed as being the first person in Britain to be infected with swine flu by human-to-human transmission.
All 210 pupils in the same year as the ill pupil have been given ten days of the anti-viral drug Tamoxifen as a precaution.
Graeme Pacitt
Graeme Pacitti who caught swine flu from newlywed Iain Askham
Tamryn Savage, headteacher of the 1,300-pupil school, has written to parents confirming the swine flu case.
In a letter given to pupils to take home today, Mrs Savage said the girl - who has recently returned from Mexico - was 'home and well'.
She wrote: 'I want to reassure you the school has taken all the necessary steps today and all the relevant agencies are involved.
'The Health Protection Agency has advised that the school should close with immediate effect and reopen again on Monday 11th May. This is to reduce the impact of any potential spread of the infection.
'The Health Protection Agency has identified those who have been in closer contact and will be offering them medication today. This has been offered this afternoon to all of Year Seven.
'Any pupils who show any sign of flu-like symptoms with a temperature, aches and pains and a cough should phone their family doctor for advice.'
Adele Dawes, 44, the mother of a Year Seven pupil at the school, said the situation was 'very concerning'.
Her son Gareth wore a face mask as he left the school today.
She said: 'Obviously the situation is very concerning, but the school dealt with it very well and everyone at the school seemed pretty calm.
'Everybody left in an orderly fashion and the school staff all did a good job.
'Of course I'm worried about the ripple effect, especially with children at school in such close contact, but there's no need to panic.'
Meanwhile, exam regulators, schools and universities are preparing for lessons and lectures to be canceled and exams to be sat in isolation.
Exams regulator Ofqual today said it was drawing up contingency plans in the even of disruption to the test and examination system said hundreds of thousands of teenagers could be forced to sit their GCSE exams in isolation from the rest of their school if a flu pandemic is declared.
Pupils who are sick with swine flu on the day of their exams could still be awarded a grade based on papers or coursework they have completed.
Universities and colleges have been encouraged to set up 'flu buddy' systems so those not affected by the virus could support those who were.
Paignton Community and Sports College in Devon has already been closed after a 12-year-old girl contracted the disease, after holidaying in Mexico.
Guidance is being issued after the first person fell victim of human-to-human transfer of swine flu in Britain. Graeme Pacitti, 24, fell ill after a night out with honeymooner Iain Askham who picked up the virus with his wife in Mexico.
It is feared the development could mark a potential tipping point on the road to a serious outbreak of swine flu here.
Until now, all eight British cases originated in Mexico and developed after holidaymakers returned home.
After the diagnosis was revealed, Mr Pacitti said he was 'gutted'.
'I saw Iain last Thursday, he wasn't showing any symptoms then. My friends thought he looked a bit tired but we thought it was just jet-lag,' he said.
'I've been feeling a lot better today than I have all week. I've still got an upset stomach and a sore throat. Earlier in the week I was having headaches and feeling feverish.'
The diagnosis was confirmed as the Department of Health announced another case in the North West, taking the overall toll in Britain to 10.
Meanwhile, a London student with the virus is said to be 'reacting very badly' and suffering from severe vomiting and the shakes.
The 22-year-old is being treated in isolation at the Royal Free Hospital in north London. Publicist Max Clifford, who is representing the family, said: 'He's in a bad way.'
There are fears people might have to avoid public events if the deadly outbreak continues to spread.
Iain and Dawn Askham
Transmission fears: Iain and Dawn Askham after leaving hospital. They may have passed on the virus to a friend before realising they were ill.
Professor Sir Roy Anderson, rector of Imperial College, London, declared today that a pandemic had already begun and the focus had to be on drug distribution.
People must heed warnings to use a tissue if they sneeze, not to touch their eyes, nose and mouth, to stay at home if feeling ill and to wash hands regularly, he said.
Although we are not at that point yet, 'there may well come a stage where one should avoid large public gatherings', he added.
Sir Roy said the disease was being transmitted in a sustained way in the US, and this would happen in other countries.
He said: 'The definition of phases five and six [of the WHO's pandemic alert scale] is somewhat irrelevant. A pandemic has started.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...le-pupil-feared-swine-flu-holiday-Mexico.html