School’s attitude to swine flu outbreak blasted by parents

Jun 25 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON high school was this week accused of keeping parents in the dark after a pupil who attended school this term was confirmed as having the swine flu virus.

Some John Ogilvie parents decided to keep their children away from the school after learning from the Advertiser that the sixth-year girl, had been tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

The story in last week’s paper also revealed that a teacher had been advised to stay at home as a precaution.

The school responded by sending text messages out to parents last Thursday morning describing the Advertiser’s story as ‘not true.’

And in a letter to parents, headteacher Edward Morrison described the 17-year-old as a ‘former’ pupil.

It has emerged that the girl, who is recovering at home was a pupil at the school until the first week of June, when she ‘signed herself off’ as a pupil. The Advertiser understands that she attended a schools’ sports day in East Kilbride in the second week in June.

Mr Morrison said in the letter: “I can assure you there is no member within our community who has been diagnosed as having a strain of the so-called swine flu.”

Parents who contacted the Advertiser last Thursday felt the school should have been more forthcoming.

One mum said: “I think the school has got the wrong attitude.

“Parents should have been informed of the situation sooner and could have made their own judgement about whether to send their kids to school or not.

“As things stand I don’t see why the school shouldn’t have been closed early.

“We don’t know what pupils the girl has come into contact with before she was tested positive for the virus.”

A concerned dad said: “The school’s handling of this matter is typical. They immediately go on the defensive.

“I’ve made complaints about a number of issues concerning my children and have been ignored.

“Parents should have been told about this.”

A mum who withdrew her daughter from the school after learning about the confirmed case of swine flu said: “My daughter is not attending school because I do not want my younger children exposed to the risk of swine flu.

“We still don’t know enough about this virus and the exact time it takes to incubate.”

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said this week that the school had been acting on the guidance of NHS Lanarkshire.

He said: “As this is a public health issue, the lead is being taken by NHS Lanarkshire on behalf of the director of public health.

“In the event of the need to exclude pupils or close a school, the decisionwould be taken by the director of public health.”