tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
More than a quarter of the pupils at a Kapiti Coast primary school are at home sick with what public health officers suspect could be an influenza outbreak.
One hundred and twenty five Waikanae School pupils aged between five and twelve stayed at home today, with two going to hospital with symptoms including fever, sore throats and vomiting.
Waikanae School principal Bevan Campbell said he had never seen an illness so virulent.
"The teachers don't seem to be affected so they sort of seemed to intimate," he told ONE News.
"It's a virus a few years ago that did the rounds and teachers have a resistance but now it's come back and hit the youngest."
With such a large proportion of the students away, public health officials say they are concerned.
Public health nurses are taking throat swabs from sick children.
They say the pattern of illness and spread looks like influenza and that will be confirmed by tests tomorrow.
"This is the first significant amount of influenza we've seen," said Dr Annette Nesdale, a medical officer of health.
"So we're really keen to find out if it is influenza and provide information to help parents reduce the spread of infection in their families and in schools and workplaces."
Doctors say some years an illness like this fans out and in others it stays within a single school or community.
They recommend parents keep sick children at home, get flu injections and practice good hygiene habits.
http://m.tvnz.co.nz/news/national/5534325
One hundred and twenty five Waikanae School pupils aged between five and twelve stayed at home today, with two going to hospital with symptoms including fever, sore throats and vomiting.
Waikanae School principal Bevan Campbell said he had never seen an illness so virulent.
"The teachers don't seem to be affected so they sort of seemed to intimate," he told ONE News.
"It's a virus a few years ago that did the rounds and teachers have a resistance but now it's come back and hit the youngest."
With such a large proportion of the students away, public health officials say they are concerned.
Public health nurses are taking throat swabs from sick children.
They say the pattern of illness and spread looks like influenza and that will be confirmed by tests tomorrow.
"This is the first significant amount of influenza we've seen," said Dr Annette Nesdale, a medical officer of health.
"So we're really keen to find out if it is influenza and provide information to help parents reduce the spread of infection in their families and in schools and workplaces."
Doctors say some years an illness like this fans out and in others it stays within a single school or community.
They recommend parents keep sick children at home, get flu injections and practice good hygiene habits.
http://m.tvnz.co.nz/news/national/5534325