4:55pm Friday 3rd July 2009
By Scott Mullins
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.”
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