School shuts as third pupil hit by 'probable' swine flu

Published on Thursday 28 May 2009 22:03

A SCHOOL is closed today after a third pupil was confirmed as being a "highly probable" case of swine flu.

Health minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday that Annette Street primary school in Glasgow, which has around 400 pupils, has shut its doors for seven days as a "precautionary move" after the five-year-old showed signs of the H1N1 virus.

The news came as it emerged that Eton College in Berkshire has also closed after a pupil was diagnosed with swine flu.

The child in Glasgow lives next door to a 37-year-old man, Kerishan Singh, who remains critically ill with swine flu at the city's Victoria Infirmary. His wife, Rajwant, and his three children were also confirmed as probable cases on Wednesday.

Last night Mrs Singh said the family was praying for her husband, who also suffers from liver and kidney problems, to get better.

She said: "We saw him on Wednesday night and, while he is still unconscious, it appears he has stabilised and the signs are slightly better."

At First Minister's Questions earlier yesterday, Alex Salmond said risk assessments indicated there was no need to shut down the primary school.

However, Ms Sturgeon later said that judgment had been based on the fact that the first two pupils had been kept at home while showing symptoms. Public health officials have decided to act now because the third pupil has been attending classes since the onset of symptoms on 18 May.

Ms Sturgeon also revealed that a number of students from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh are being investigated as possible cases after two students returned home to Greece, where they tested positive.

Dr Richard Othieno, public health consultant for NHS Lothian, said: "

The threat to public health remains low. We are currently contacting close contacts of the affected students to see whether action is required."

A university spokeswoman said there were no plans to close buildings or move any of the 360 post-graduate students.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases in Scotland stands at 14. There are six probable cases – five in Glasgow and one in the Lothians.

Ms Sturgeon said there were 11 other possible cases across Scotland. The total was made up of one case in the Forth Valley, two in Fife, one in Tayside and seven in the Lothians.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Those being identified as being probable cases are continuing to experience mild symptoms. There is absolutely no reason for anybody to be unduly alarmed."

Health officials revealed yesterday UK scientists have produced a strain of the swine flu virus suitable for vaccine manufacture.