4:53pm Thursday 2nd July 2009
AS swine flu reaches pandemic levels around the world, new measures to tackle the virus have been announced.
Health secretary Andy Burnham has announced ministers have agreed to move from taking emergency measures to contain the virus to a new “treatment” phase.
This will mean anti-flu drugs will no longer be given to the close contacts of those infected nor will lab testing be done to confirm cases.
As a result, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is no longer advising closure of schools when a case is confirmed among children and staff.
There have so far been 1,794 confirmed cases in London, and 6,929 in the UK.
Bromley borough has had nine confirmed cases and Bexley has had six.
Health trusts in Lewisham and Greenwich are both unable to provide exact figures of confirmed cases.
Health trusts say they cannot provide a definitive figure for confirmed swine flu cases in schools.
However, several schools in the News Shopper area have had confirmed and suspected outbreaks of the virus.
BROMLEY
A Year 12 pupil from Coopers Technology College in Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst, has been treated for swine flu.
LEWISHAM
Several children at Holbeach Primary School, Doggett Road, Catford, were found to have the symptoms.
GREENWICH
Four children from Blackheath Nursery and Preparatory School, in St German’s Place, Blackheath, were diagnosed with swine flu, forcing the school shut for a week.
St Ursula’s Convent School, in Crooms Hill, Greenwich, was forced to cancel the launch of its new teacher training facilities because a 14-year-old pupil was diagnosed with swine flu.
GRAVESHAM
Several Year 6 pupils from Meopham Community Primary School, in Keary Road, Swanscombe, are off sick with flu-like symptoms.
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