Scarlet fever outbreak at Swindon school
By Emily Walker
TWO cases of scarlet fever have been reported at a Swindon school.
Parents with children at Oliver Tomkins Infant School in Toothill have been told to look out for symptoms of the contagious disease but are being advised not to panic.
Health experts have also been informed and are liaising with the school.
Notices have been put up around the building after the two pupils fell sick this week.
Headteacher Rhian Cockwell said: "We have got two cases. These are two isolated incidents.
"I have put signs up around the school to inform parents and warn them about the risks.
"The problem is there are quite a few children down with colds and the symptoms are a bit like flu, but with the red rash."
One of the two pupils was diagnosed with scarlet fever on Monday and the second fell ill the next day.
"I am very concerned that we don't want to panic parents,"
said Ms Cockwell. "We have put information all around the school."
Because scarlet fever is a communicable disease all cases have to be reported to the local health service.
The two children affected are now off school until they have recovered.
A Swindon Primary Care Trust (PCT) report last June showed there had been just eight cases of the disease reported the area last year and no cases in 2005 or 2004.
Ms Cockrell said the school's secretary had notified Swindon PCT about the outbreak.
Parent John Peterson, whose seven year-old son Thomas is a pupil at the school, said he had not been officially informed yesterday afternoon.
He had heard there was a number of suspected cases as well but this has not be confirmed by the school.
"The school has not done anything about it yet," he said. "Another parent told me about it.
"There are 11 suspected cases and two confirmed cases.
"It is worrying that such an infectious disease could be at the school."
Another parent, who did not want to be named, said: "The deputy head and the head pulled some parents over as we were leaving the school and asked who had been spreading rumours.
"I think it is just people telling tales and I'm not worried at all for my daughter's safety."
The Health Protection Agency, which monitors infectious disease, said cases of scarlet fever were not getting more common, but tended to occur in clusters.
Laurence Knight, from the Health Protection Agency, said: "It is a pretty mild infection that can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
"Children are advised to stay off school for several days because it is infectious.
"Before antibiotics it was a far more serious disease. In very rare circumstances there can be more serious complications."
By Emily Walker
TWO cases of scarlet fever have been reported at a Swindon school.
Parents with children at Oliver Tomkins Infant School in Toothill have been told to look out for symptoms of the contagious disease but are being advised not to panic.
Health experts have also been informed and are liaising with the school.
Notices have been put up around the building after the two pupils fell sick this week.
Headteacher Rhian Cockwell said: "We have got two cases. These are two isolated incidents.
"I have put signs up around the school to inform parents and warn them about the risks.
"The problem is there are quite a few children down with colds and the symptoms are a bit like flu, but with the red rash."
One of the two pupils was diagnosed with scarlet fever on Monday and the second fell ill the next day.
"I am very concerned that we don't want to panic parents,"
said Ms Cockwell. "We have put information all around the school."
Because scarlet fever is a communicable disease all cases have to be reported to the local health service.
The two children affected are now off school until they have recovered.
A Swindon Primary Care Trust (PCT) report last June showed there had been just eight cases of the disease reported the area last year and no cases in 2005 or 2004.
Ms Cockrell said the school's secretary had notified Swindon PCT about the outbreak.
Parent John Peterson, whose seven year-old son Thomas is a pupil at the school, said he had not been officially informed yesterday afternoon.
He had heard there was a number of suspected cases as well but this has not be confirmed by the school.
"The school has not done anything about it yet," he said. "Another parent told me about it.
"There are 11 suspected cases and two confirmed cases.
"It is worrying that such an infectious disease could be at the school."
Another parent, who did not want to be named, said: "The deputy head and the head pulled some parents over as we were leaving the school and asked who had been spreading rumours.
"I think it is just people telling tales and I'm not worried at all for my daughter's safety."
The Health Protection Agency, which monitors infectious disease, said cases of scarlet fever were not getting more common, but tended to occur in clusters.
Laurence Knight, from the Health Protection Agency, said: "It is a pretty mild infection that can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
"Children are advised to stay off school for several days because it is infectious.
"Before antibiotics it was a far more serious disease. In very rare circumstances there can be more serious complications."
