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CHISLEHURST: Swine flu case confirmed at Beaverwood School for Girls

4:55pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in


A GIRL at a school in Chislehurst has contracted swine flu, while another is displaying symptoms of the virus, according to education officials.

Beaverwood School for Girls in Beaverwood Road announced the news today (July 3) in a letter to parents and carers.

A statement on the school’s website says: “A letter has gone home with students advising parents that one of our students is suffering from swine flu-like symptoms and one other student has been confirmed as having swine flu.

“The school will be open as normal next week.”

It is not yet known the age of the children affected, but a letter from head teacher Karen Raven states: “The Health Protection Agency and the Local Authority are not now advising closure of schools for public health reasons or the issuing of preventative anti-virals for all children and staff.

“This is because with the increasing number of swine flu cases in the wider community outside the school, closing a school is unlikely to stop the spread of this infection.”

It continues: “In addition, in those schools with several children or staff absence with suspected flu, then it is likely that spread has already occurred in the school.”

Comments(17)

mother of 2 says...
9:43am Sat 4 Jul 09

it is not only BEAVERWOOD school that has a swine flu case ... it is in COOPERS school as well and another in bromley ........

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bexley mum says...
3:55pm Sun 5 Jul 09

also another at welling school.

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Roman says...
7:19am Mon 6 Jul 09

ahh yes of course, these educated people..well alledgedly educated, but it dont take a brain surgeon to work out that coughing and sneezing in the confined spaces of a classroom is more likely to cause the spread of this virus than keeping the kids at home. After all, with just 15 days til they break up for summer, all exams finished etc, we should keep them at school and try and spread this virus as much as possible, after all if my daughter( a beaverwood pupil) catches it then passes it on to my son who has chronic asthma...it wont be them or their children laying in an icu bed with tubes coming out of them keeping them alive will it !

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mother of 2 says...
3:55pm Mon 6 Jul 09

have just found out that the prioy school now ha swine flu ... but the school has'nt even sent a letter home just have said that kids have to go tochool unless they have it ....which is how it going to spread even more

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jca111 says...
1:17pm Tue 7 Jul 09

Lets face it - before the year is out, each and every one of you is going to be exposed to this virus. You may not get the symptoms, but we are all going to be exposed.

So what's the use of closing schools? None. Its just delaying (very slightly) the inevitable outcome.

Most people will be ill for a week or two and recover. The current UK death rate is about 1 per 1000. This is lower than seasonal flu. So from that perspective there is little to worry about.

The only possible worry is if we all get it over a few weeks. Then services and shops may struggle to cope with a high percentage of absenteeism due to the illness, and some shops etc may have low stock.

Apart from that - carry on as normal.

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zara attridge says...
7:43pm Tue 7 Jul 09

I agree with Roman, i have a seriously ill husband and daughter has Asthma, both my son and my daughter go to different school's and both school's have it now, i will not be sending my children to school until i know it is safe to i send them as i will not risk my families health for the sake of upsetting anyone..

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anon!! says...
11:29pm Tue 7 Jul 09

I agree with jca111, let's carry on as normal. You could catch swine flu anywhere and let's face it, there are going to be loads of workers who will use it as an excuse for a sickie! Also, would people be so willing to close down all public transport services as they are to close down schools?? As your just as likely to get swine flu on a bus/tube.

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teski says...
10:01am Wed 8 Jul 09

Confirmed case in Mayplace Primary in Bexleheath.

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GalaxyN480 says...
10:52am Wed 8 Jul 09

I have 2 daughters at Beaverwood and feel the school should have been closed to prevent this virus spreading. One of my daughter's who attends Beaverwood is vulnerable due illness so why hasn't anyone addressed this? I also have a newborn baby at home who I assume would also be classed as vulnerable. We have less than 2 weeks until the holidays when I expect many families will have their summer ruined by illness. It is all about keeping the school's attendance records looking good but at what cost?

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samantha39 says...
5:23pm Wed 8 Jul 09

There has also been a confirmed case at the Bexley Business Academy today.

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mumof3sons says...
9:37am Thu 9 Jul 09

Perry Hall primary have sent a letter home saying someone has `flu-like` symptons. Just another school for the list...

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Dons30 says...
11:39am Thu 9 Jul 09

Also at Erith School.

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Mother Sidcup says...
11:30pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Just confirmed today that Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar that there is one confirmed case of swine flu and another suspected.

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gemmy says...
12:22pm Mon 13 Jul 09

Keeping your children off school is not going to help. The illness has gone past the prevention stage and is now in treatment stage. 500,000 people worldwide die from 'normal flu' each year. Also the latest news on the WHO website is that no-one over the age of 60 has died from swine flu, which is leading people to believe that maybe it has already gone round the world once before and that some people already have immunity from it

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zara attridge says...
1:12pm Tue 14 Jul 09

2 unconfirmed cases at Grays farm now too, they are being treated for swine flu though.
Gremmy i still will not risk my family and will continue to take precautions, thanks anyway honey

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ELT says...
3:11pm Tue 14 Jul 09

Deansfield & Crown Woods too.

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zara attridge says...
8:54am Wed 15 Jul 09

just to update my other comment yesterday, 1 child has been confirmed now and others have symptoms presumed to be the same illness. (at grays farm this is)

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