Swine flu: Hillary parents chuffed by how school dealt with confirmed cases

FIVE cases of swine flu among learners at Hillary Primary School have been confirmed and parents have been impressed by the way the school has handled the situation. A general alert sent out by the school about learners having been tested positive for the N1 H1 Virus, commonly referred to as swine ‘flu, caused alarm resulting in many people sharing the screenshot of the message widely on social media platforms and Facebook groups last week.

This prompted the local ward councillor, Samantha Windvogel, to make an announcement on her Facebook page listing the signs and symptoms of the infection.

Parents who have learners at the school have told the Queensburgh News they are very satisfied with the way the school handled the news of the infection.

Lorette Moodley, who has a son in Grade 7, said she was pleased the school immediately took the necessary precautions and kept parents informed about what was going on.

“They gave us information every step of the way and even educated the children and staff about what to look out for if they get sick,” said Moodley.

Moodley added that the school had let parents know that regardless of if their child is sick or not, if they felt safer keeping them home, then that would be acceptable to them. “It was good to know that they understood that some parents might want to err on the side of caution.”

ALSO READ: [INFOGRAPHIC] Must-know facts about swine flu

“That is just the way Hillary Primary is,” said Moodley. “They really care about the children. This is why I am so happy both my children went to that school,” she said adding that her daughter had now moved on to high school.

Another parent of a Grade 3 child, who asked not to be named said her child was new to the school and was a little freaked out by the announcement in the beginning.

“At first she was worried about having swine flu, but I dismissed it as she didn’t present with any symptoms,” said her mother.

“When I received the message on the D6 I wasn’t concerned as it was just one confirmed case at that point. But then on Tuesday I received a call that my child was sick at school so I rushed to fetch her. They had said she was vomiting, but when I got to her she said her tummy was sore.” 

The mother said she took her child to the paediatrician who did tests and confirmed that the child didn’t have the disease.

“All was clear, and at that point, I saw the other message about more confirmed cases at school. I decided to keep my child at home. Just as a precaution,” she said.

The mother also added that she also has an infant at home, and her children were at greater risk due to their medical history. “My children have depressed immune systems as they are asthmatic and of course a baby is still building immunity,” she said.

Hillary Primary School principal, Mike Jacob declined to comment.

Health experts offer advice

Lizeth Kruger, the National Clinic Manager of Dis-Chem Pharmacies said the most important thing for people to take note of is that there is a difference between flu and simply having a cold.

“Colds present with runny noses, a non-serious cough, and a normal temperature. They tend to have a gradual onset, and patients with a cold can often still function normally,” said Kruger.

“However, with flu there is a sudden onset. A person can be fine in the morning and very sick by the evening. Kruger also listed symptoms such as body aches, a severely blocked nose and high temperatures which accompany flu.  Also, people can develop secondary infections like pneumonia with flu, there is generally a sore throat, and loose stools.”

In the case of swine flu, Kruger described the symptoms as including a very sore throat, vomiting and nausea, high fever, body ache and general fatigue. Kruger said this year’s flu shot offered a broad category of protection. “Flu vaccine covers H1N1 and H3N2 in particular,” she said.

Dr Richard Foster of Medicross in Pinetown said many seasonal ailments are best treated with rest, home remedies and over-the-counter products.

“Signs that it would be prudent to take the illness more seriously are when there are changes suggestive of swine flu such as a raised temperature, chills, body pains and weakness; and there may well be diarrhoea and vomiting. The problem is that pneumonia and other complications from the infection can be fatal,” he said.

“Should you suspect that you have contracted swine flu don’t panic, instead withdraw from physical activity, keep warm and increase fluid intake until your doctor can assess and treat you or arrange hospital admission if you are too sick.”

Asked who is most at risk of infection Foster said everyone is at risk, but the especially vulnerable are: “children, the elderly and those with other health concerns such as asthma, emphysema, arthritis, high blood pressure and diabetes.

“The current flu vaccine that is effective against swine flu is now available and all, including pregnant women, should have it. Don’t delay because it will take about 10 days to build up the protection for the body,” said Foster.

Other advice from the doctor is to avoid closed and crowded spaces and people who they know are sick. “It is spread by infected people coughing and sneezing in your direction; wash hands frequently and keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth and nose,” he said.

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