SWINE FLU: More Exeter school cases

A CASE of swine flu has been confirmed at another Exeter secondary school.

St Luke’s Science and Sports College, in Harts Lane, has sent an advisory letter out to parents and guardians on following the confirmation that a student had the respiratory disease.

The student was at home rather than at school when the diagnosis was made, and will remain there until fully recovered.

The school has confirmed that a letter was sent home to parents on Friday.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said: “St Luke’s College has a confirmed case — the letter came out on Friday.”

The virus has steadily spread through schools in the city since the outbreak of swine flu started in Exeter just under two weeks ago, when 10 students from Exeter University tested positive for the virus.

There have since been five more confirmed cases at the university as well as others at primary and secondary schools across the city and the region.

Two pupils at Whipton Barton Infants have been clinically diagnosed with swine flu, as have two students at Colyton Grammar.

West Exe Technology College had three confirmed and three suspected cases of swine flu. It has postponed a parents’ evening, three celebration events and cancelled a range of non-essential after-school activities to help stem the spread of the virus.

A 15-year-old girl from the West of England School for the blind and partially sighted has been isolated with suspected swine flu. In line with other schools in Exeter, the school has decided to remain open, but it has advised parents they can keep their children away if they want to. Numerous children have been kept away from lessons over swine flu fears at St Sidwell’s CofE Primary, where a spokesman said one child in the school and another in the nursery were being treated for swine flu symptoms.

Symptoms include fever and flu-like symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, limb or joint aches and pains, and headaches. Some people have reported suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea.

A number of adults in the city have also been confirmed as or suspected of having swine flu.

So far, four people in the UK, all of whom were suffering from other health problems, have died after contracting swine flu.

Swine flu is transmitted in the same way as other types of flu — through coughing, sneezing and touching contaminated surfaces.

People are advised to wash their hands regularly and catch coughs and sneezes in tissues which should then be promptly thrown away.

For more information call the swine flu information line on 08001 513 513 or visit www.nhs.uk where there is a symptom checker.