Swine flu: Scottish schools to reopen 'but English classes closed'

Published on Friday 17 July 2009 22:18

SCOTTISH schools are set to reopen as planned next month despite concerns about the spread of swine flu, it emerged yesterday.

In England, official guidance suggested that some schools could remain closed in September, if the H1N1 virus escalates over the summer.

The Scottish Government said the plan was for schools to reopen as usual in mid-August. A spokeswoman said: "At this stage it is anticipated that schools in Scotland will reopen after the summer holidays as planned."

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) yesterday said that, while it was expected schools and nurseries in England would open as usual at the start of the academic year, they "cannot be certain what the situation will be" in the autumn.

Across the UK, the number of deaths linked to swine flu stands at 29. Yesterday, it was reported that the most recent cases included a six-month-old baby and a woman who had just given birth.

The first UK swine flu death was Jacqueline Fleming, 38, from Glasgow, shortly after she gave birth prematurely to her son.

The DCSF said about 1,000 schools in England had recorded cases of swine flu, though most remained open.

The department said it was looking at the situation on a day-by-day basis and would be monitoring developments over the summer. A message will be sent to schools in the last week of August, informing them what to do at the start of English school term in September.

The UK government has said that as many as 65,000 people could die as a result of the pandemic, based on 30 per cent of the population becoming ill.

Yesterday, there were suggestions that Scotland's poor health record – and its high rates of obesity – could mean it is harder hit by swine flu.

Evidence from the United States has emerged to suggest that obesity is a risk factor for people becoming more unwell with the H1N1 virus. Scotland has among the highest rates of obesity in the world.

Eminent microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington said: "Morbid obesity is another risk factor.

It's the same as having a weak heart in many ways."

&#149 The Italian government has warned its citizens to take extra precautions when travelling because of the spike in swine flu cases in Britain. The health ministry stopped short of discouraging travel to Britain, but people planning a visit should be checked for conditions that put them at risk for catching swine flu.

DANGER OF FOCUSING ON FLU

WARNINGS have been issued about the danger of wrongly diagnosing swine flu in patients with more serious illnesses.

Gemma Drury, 17, of Brimington, Chesterfield, was told she had swine flu over the telephone after she began feeling unwell last week.

She was later given the same diagnosis when she was visited by a doctor at home and on a visit to hospital. But when her health deteriorated days later, she was taken to hospital for a second time and diagnosed with meningitis.

Now there are fears people may miss the signs of other potentially life-threatening illnesses, such as meningitis, because of the focus on H1N1.

Bruce Laurence, deputy director of public health at Derbyshire Country Primary Care Trust, said: "It is a concern when a lot of people are coming down with one virus, that other conditions could get missed but our staff are being vigilant and keeping this in mind when assessing patients, notably children.

"Most people who get the swine flu virus will only have mild symptoms which will clear up within days but anyone who is beginning to feel significantly more unwell should seek professional help."

It is not known if Gemma did have swine flu, as she was never tested for the virus, or whether her illness was solely due to the meningitis. Both illnesses begin with flu-like symptoms. She was yesterday said to be recovering in hospital.