http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/09/26/newsstory13848631t0.asp
Support for swine flu blood tests
By Craig McManamon
FIFE?S EDUCATION chief has spoken out in favour of taking blood tests from secondary school pupils in a bid to track swine flu, provided certain conditions were met.
Councillor Douglas Chapman, who is chairman of the education and children?s services committee, made the comments after reports this week revealed that the public body Health Protection Scotland had requested, through health boards and local authorities, for swine flu-infected schools to volunteer for blood tests.
Speaking to The Courier, Mr Chapman said he would support such a move on the condition it received the proper backing.
?I would certainly support this providing it was on a voluntary basis for schools and received ?sign-up? from parents and pupils,? he said.
?The issue is that we are expecting a second string of outbreaks come October/ November time and with young people at school among the most vulnerable group, I feel the tests would be of benefit in monitoring the virus.?
Health Protection Scotland said yesterday that the blood tests would help show if some young people were developing a natural resistance to the virus.
It also pointed out that tests would shed new light on the numbers who have contracted the virus but show no apparent symptoms.
The tests would be conducted purely on a voluntary basis and would only apply to secondary schools.
Yesterday a spokeswoman for NHS Fife said it had not received any request from the health organisation for schools in the region to take part in the blood tests.
?NHS Fife follows all national guidance in relation to H1N1,? she said.
?Any proposals to track the virus through blood testing pupils would require the agreement of the local authority, schools and the consent of parents.?
With a second wave of swine flu expected over the winter, schoolchildren have been identified as a group vulnerable to exposure.
However, there is little evidence of this so far according to the spokeswoman who added that, to date, absenteeism rates across Fife schools had not been ?unusual- ly high.?
?NHS Fife, along with our partner agencies, have robust contingency plans in place should there be a surge in flu cases and our plans take account of the latest planning assumptions,? she said.
?We continue to respond to our local circumstances, planning and reviewing our preparations, whilst liaising with partners and the Scottish Government.?
Commenting on the issue yesterday was Sandra Ellery, a member of the Waid Academy parent council, who said it was a serious matter which needed to be discussed further.
?We would have to hold discussions with a wide range of groups including the parent council, the wider parent body and rector before we could make any sort of comment on that,? she said.
?The decision would be taken very seriously.?
Support for swine flu blood tests
By Craig McManamon
FIFE?S EDUCATION chief has spoken out in favour of taking blood tests from secondary school pupils in a bid to track swine flu, provided certain conditions were met.
Councillor Douglas Chapman, who is chairman of the education and children?s services committee, made the comments after reports this week revealed that the public body Health Protection Scotland had requested, through health boards and local authorities, for swine flu-infected schools to volunteer for blood tests.
Speaking to The Courier, Mr Chapman said he would support such a move on the condition it received the proper backing.
?I would certainly support this providing it was on a voluntary basis for schools and received ?sign-up? from parents and pupils,? he said.
?The issue is that we are expecting a second string of outbreaks come October/ November time and with young people at school among the most vulnerable group, I feel the tests would be of benefit in monitoring the virus.?
Health Protection Scotland said yesterday that the blood tests would help show if some young people were developing a natural resistance to the virus.
It also pointed out that tests would shed new light on the numbers who have contracted the virus but show no apparent symptoms.
The tests would be conducted purely on a voluntary basis and would only apply to secondary schools.
Yesterday a spokeswoman for NHS Fife said it had not received any request from the health organisation for schools in the region to take part in the blood tests.
?NHS Fife follows all national guidance in relation to H1N1,? she said.
?Any proposals to track the virus through blood testing pupils would require the agreement of the local authority, schools and the consent of parents.?
With a second wave of swine flu expected over the winter, schoolchildren have been identified as a group vulnerable to exposure.
However, there is little evidence of this so far according to the spokeswoman who added that, to date, absenteeism rates across Fife schools had not been ?unusual- ly high.?
?NHS Fife, along with our partner agencies, have robust contingency plans in place should there be a surge in flu cases and our plans take account of the latest planning assumptions,? she said.
?We continue to respond to our local circumstances, planning and reviewing our preparations, whilst liaising with partners and the Scottish Government.?
Commenting on the issue yesterday was Sandra Ellery, a member of the Waid Academy parent council, who said it was a serious matter which needed to be discussed further.
?We would have to hold discussions with a wide range of groups including the parent council, the wider parent body and rector before we could make any sort of comment on that,? she said.
?The decision would be taken very seriously.?