Swine flu scare sees Scottish teachers cancel conference

Published on Thursday 14 May 2009 22:04

A TEACHERS' conference was cancelled yesterday after one of the delegates revealed his wife had suspected swine flu.

The two-day NASUWT event at the Macdonald Hotel in Aviemore was called off as a precaution to prevent potential spread to pupils.

However, it later emerged that the woman did not have the virus.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the union, said: "A relative of a delegate was put in isolation after suffering flu-like symptoms after returning from America.

"The NASUWT took the view that the most sensible and responsible course of action was to cancel the conference and not to risk spreading infection, particularly as the delegates are teachers and it could have resulted in the infection spreading to a large number of schools in Scotland."

It is understood the delegate only discovered that his wife's illness could be swine flu after arriving at the conference, at which 60 guests were expected. Test results later confirmed it was not swine flu.

Leading microbiologist Hugh Pennington said he understood the decision, given the potential of the virus to spread through schools.

He said: "You would have thousands exposed before you knew it. At this stage where everybody is nervous, we are in containment mode in the UK, trying to stop this virus being established here.

"It was a difficult call for the conference organisers. They took a very bold decision, maybe going a little bit further than the facts would warrant, but this is a very slippery virus.

"And while we are still in this containment mode you can't blame them."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "It is important to stress that at this time the risk to the public remains low."

Meanwhile, the number of probable cases of swine flu under investigation in Scotland yesterday increased to five.

One new likely case was confirmed by the Scottish Government in Greenock, adding to the four probable cases in the area still awaiting final test results. The new probable case is the mother of a child already suspected of having the virus.

So far, five cases of H1N1 infection have been confirmed in Scotland. As well as the five probable cases – which have tested positive for influenza A but are awaiting confirmation that they are the swine flu strain – a further 16 possible cases are being investigated.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "We continue to monitor this situation and the figures today show us that we must remain vigilant as we focus on disrupting the spread of the virus."

Ravenscraig Primary School and the Ladybird Nursery in Greenock have been closed after two children were identified as probable cases.

Seven new cases of the virus were confirmed in England yesterday, bringing the total in the UK to 78. A further 314 possible swine flu cases are being investigated across the country.

Scientists have identified the genetic fingerprint of the European strain of the virus, Ms Sturgeon told MSPs yesterday.

That was "a crucial first step" in the production of a vaccine and the aim in the UK was to secure supplies of an effective vaccine as soon as it became available – enough to cover the whole population.