Bid to calm parents over swine flu

Lorraine Tinney 1626 - 1626 • Published 17 Jun 2009 14:00

EDUCATION bosses are sending out letters to parents of children whose schools have been hit with swine flu.

They hope this will reassure parents worried about their sons or daughters catching the virus.

Yesterday it was confirmed that a youngster from Greenock"s Glenbrae Children"s Centre, in Glenbrae Road, and a child at St Joseph"s Primary, in Wren Road, Greenock, have the illness.

The total number of cases in Inverclyde is now 14.

The letter from NHS Glasgow and Clyde also includes a leaflet about the flu virus, how to avoid it and the symptoms.

Parents are advised to keep their child at home if they develop symptoms outlined in the leaflet such as fever, coughing, runny nose or sore throat.

The letter states: 'As the virus is now widespread in the local community, there is no additional risk of your child contracting the virus solely from attendance at the school/nursery/centre.'

A health board spokeswoman said: 'Public health advice to St Joseph"s is that it can remain open as the other pupils in school have had limited contact with the affected child. The chances of other children developing the infection are not high.'

Health chiefs said Tamiflu anti-viral tablets have not been given to pupils at Moorfoot Primary, despite a primary three pupil at the Gourock school contracting the virus.

One mum, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: 'My neighbour told me he had heard there was swine flu at the school.

'I would have thought we should have all got a newsletter on Monday explaining why the school was remaining open.'

Emma Gorman, said her five-year-old daughter, Hannah, who is in the nursery class at Moorfoot, is also a suspected case.

She said: 'NHS 24 confirmed she has it and I"ve been told to give her Tamiflu.'

Senior pupils at Port Glasgow High went back to school today after being ordered to stay away for a week after a fifth-year pupil was confirmed as having caught swine flu.

If you have any concerns about swine flu, contact your GP, or call NHS 24 on 08454 242424.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 17 Jun 09

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