Exclusive: Suspected or confirmed swine flu cases in 22 Croydon schools
Friday, July 10, 2009, 07:00
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EXCLUSIVE
By Anna Edwards
anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk
Swine flu is sweeping the borough ? with 22 schools now believed to have been hit by the illness.
Students at nursery, primary and secondary schools with suspected or confirmed cases of the bug are being kept at home in a bid to contain the virus.
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A Croydon Council spokeswoman said: "Since the first outbreak was confirmed in Croydon we have had reports of pupils at 22 schools being affected by the virus.
"Not all have been confirmed cases and we understand that many of the pupils involved have recovered and are now back in the classroom as normal."
Headteachers have been advised by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to keep schools open because the unstoppable flu virus is already circulating in the community and people could come into contact with it in many ways.
The HPA believes closing schools will not slow the spread of swine flu.
Woodside Junior School, in Morland Road, Woodside, is one of the school's thought to be affected by the bug.
Headteacher Chris Wier says it is business as usual for those children still at school.
He said: "We haven't had any confirmed cases, but we've had some children with flu-like symptoms so their parents have kept them off - it's better to be safe than sorry.
"We're not closing the school, as long as teachers are fighting fit and ready to teach we will stay open, as we have been advised to.
"People are being more cautious than normal if their child has a cold.
"But it does not benefit the situation to keep children off school unless they are ill."
Mum Michelle Farley, 29, from Davies Close, Woodside, supports the school staying open.
She said: "These cases have not been confirmed, and from what swine flu sounds like it's a fever, a cold and some aches - just like normal flu.
"I wouldn't take my child out of school because someone has a cold. "The mums of the ill kids are taking their children to the doctors and getting checked, they're doing the right thing.
"I think some people will overreact, as parents do."
In contrast Emma Smith, who has a daughter at Woodside Infants on the same site, is worried that the school is still open.
She said: "If the school knows its children might have swine flu then it should close.
"Parents don't want their kids in there, I wouldn't be surprised if half the school kept their kids off, swine flu is a really serious risk."
The council spokeswoman added that most of those affected had suffered only mild symptoms.
However, schools are continuing to advise that staff and children who have flu-like symptoms should not come into school but contact their GP for advice.
NHS Croydon says doctors are no longer testing every suspected case in a lab which means there is no precise figure for how many people in the borough have the illness.
*Have you been a victim of swine flu? If so call the newsdesk on 020 8760 7607 or e-mail newsdesk@essnmedia.co.uk
SCHOOLS WITH SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED SWINE FLU CASES
Elmhurst Primary, South Croydon
Broadmead Juniors, Croydon
Woodcote Primary, Coulsdon
David Livingstone Primary, Thornton Heath
Parish CofE Juniors, Waddon
St John's CofE Primary, Shirley
Riddlesdown High, Purley
Chipstead Valley Primary, Coulsdon
Christ Church CofE Primary, Purley
Ryelands Primary, South Norwood
Woodside Junior, Woodside
Smitham Primary, Coulsdon
Harris Academy, South Norwood
Atwood Primary, Sanderstead
Whitehorse Manor Junior, Thornton Heath
Tunstall Nursery, Addiscombe
Spring Park Primary, Shirley
St Cypriens, Thornton Heath
Edenham High, Shirley
Lodge School, Purley
Priory Special School, South Norwood
Elmwood Junior, Broad Green
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk...n-schools/article-1153312-detail/article.html
Friday, July 10, 2009, 07:00
Comment on this story
EXCLUSIVE
By Anna Edwards
anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk
Swine flu is sweeping the borough ? with 22 schools now believed to have been hit by the illness.
Students at nursery, primary and secondary schools with suspected or confirmed cases of the bug are being kept at home in a bid to contain the virus.
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A Croydon Council spokeswoman said: "Since the first outbreak was confirmed in Croydon we have had reports of pupils at 22 schools being affected by the virus.
"Not all have been confirmed cases and we understand that many of the pupils involved have recovered and are now back in the classroom as normal."
Headteachers have been advised by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to keep schools open because the unstoppable flu virus is already circulating in the community and people could come into contact with it in many ways.
The HPA believes closing schools will not slow the spread of swine flu.
Woodside Junior School, in Morland Road, Woodside, is one of the school's thought to be affected by the bug.
Headteacher Chris Wier says it is business as usual for those children still at school.
He said: "We haven't had any confirmed cases, but we've had some children with flu-like symptoms so their parents have kept them off - it's better to be safe than sorry.
"We're not closing the school, as long as teachers are fighting fit and ready to teach we will stay open, as we have been advised to.
"People are being more cautious than normal if their child has a cold.
"But it does not benefit the situation to keep children off school unless they are ill."
Mum Michelle Farley, 29, from Davies Close, Woodside, supports the school staying open.
She said: "These cases have not been confirmed, and from what swine flu sounds like it's a fever, a cold and some aches - just like normal flu.
"I wouldn't take my child out of school because someone has a cold. "The mums of the ill kids are taking their children to the doctors and getting checked, they're doing the right thing.
"I think some people will overreact, as parents do."
In contrast Emma Smith, who has a daughter at Woodside Infants on the same site, is worried that the school is still open.
She said: "If the school knows its children might have swine flu then it should close.
"Parents don't want their kids in there, I wouldn't be surprised if half the school kept their kids off, swine flu is a really serious risk."
The council spokeswoman added that most of those affected had suffered only mild symptoms.
However, schools are continuing to advise that staff and children who have flu-like symptoms should not come into school but contact their GP for advice.
NHS Croydon says doctors are no longer testing every suspected case in a lab which means there is no precise figure for how many people in the borough have the illness.
*Have you been a victim of swine flu? If so call the newsdesk on 020 8760 7607 or e-mail newsdesk@essnmedia.co.uk
SCHOOLS WITH SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED SWINE FLU CASES
Elmhurst Primary, South Croydon
Broadmead Juniors, Croydon
Woodcote Primary, Coulsdon
David Livingstone Primary, Thornton Heath
Parish CofE Juniors, Waddon
St John's CofE Primary, Shirley
Riddlesdown High, Purley
Chipstead Valley Primary, Coulsdon
Christ Church CofE Primary, Purley
Ryelands Primary, South Norwood
Woodside Junior, Woodside
Smitham Primary, Coulsdon
Harris Academy, South Norwood
Atwood Primary, Sanderstead
Whitehorse Manor Junior, Thornton Heath
Tunstall Nursery, Addiscombe
Spring Park Primary, Shirley
St Cypriens, Thornton Heath
Edenham High, Shirley
Lodge School, Purley
Priory Special School, South Norwood
Elmwood Junior, Broad Green
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk...n-schools/article-1153312-detail/article.html