No plans to close swine flu schools

The country’s top health officials have stated that there are no plans in place to close schools even in the event of a swine flu outbreak.

Some 30 people are being treated in hospital for the human swine flu virus, the Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed, but it reiterated that the vast majority can still be treated at home without even calling a doctor.

A further 1,400 cases of human swine flu were confirmed last week in Ireland, but the HSE said that only a 1-2% minority would be hospitalised and most would recover.

The health authorities have also confirmed they have no plans to close schools even if there were cases of the virus.

Dr Pat Doorley, the national director of population health, said that if there were incidents, schools could contact their local public health doctors who “will help them with managing the cases”.

Dr Doorley said schools could play an important role and they wanted them to teach children good habits in relation to coughing, sneezing and hand washing.

A spokesman for the National Parents’ Council said today that at present the association was following the advice of the HSE.

The same message came out from the Association of Secondary Teacher Ireland and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation.

An 18-year-old woman, Darina Calpin from Sligo, died in Tallaght Hospital on Friday after contracting the virus in the community. Ms Calpin had cystic fibrosis. Dr Doorley said the State was “not in a higher alert” following Ms Calpin’s death.

Information about preventing the spread of the virus is available at www.hse.ie and www.hpsc.ie.

The hotline number is 1800 941100.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper.