Are schools ready to tackle flu?

Swine flu is much like seasonal flu. It strikes children and the elderly more than anybody because their immune systems are weaker than others. In India, a substantial number of schoolchildren has caught the bug. While many imported it from a holiday abroad, others got it while travelling with these children in buses and spending time in classrooms.

The virus prospers in cold weather and during rains — a reason why India needs to plan for the months ahead. Though schools in Delhi and Pune, where several students contacted the virus, are doing everything to prevent its spread, in the rest of the country there isn’t much action. In some states, there’s the odd notice from schools telling parents about swine flu. In others, flu is not on the radar.
 
Some schools in Mumbai — Vibgyor High, Podar Jumbo Kids, Cathedral and John Connon — have either sent circulars or put up notices on their websites on how the virus spreads and why students are vulnerable.

Serious action — health camps and the like — is restricted to international schools, which are wary of students bringing home the bug post vacation. International schools resume on Monday after vacation.

The principal of Rims International, Kishore Pillai said, “We have reason to worry. Many of our students frequently travel abroad. So we are conducting a health camp on Monday for students. We will also get them to fill out forms stating where they vacationed.”
Some schools, however, are not worried. MP Sharma, the director of GD Somani School said, “We have not taken any step. We get students from the elite class who are not likely to be infected. It is unlikely there’ll be any cases in the city. However, we might take measures after exams.” Though the government has not issued any advisory, the health department might launch an awareness drive.

Even though two students, from Ludhiana and Patiala, tested positive for swine flu in Punjab, the state’s education secretary Krishan Kumar said there is no threat of swine flu in schools. The government has alerted educational institutions, asking them to keep a close watch on students returning from abroad. In Tamil Nadu, there is still no government directive for institutions. “There hasn’t been a single case among schoolchildren. We are sensitising teachers, other than that there is no plan,” said health secretary KV Subburaj.

It’s the same story in Uttar Pradesh. No school is on alert here. “Fortunately, the incidence in UP is not of a level where we need emergency measures… no student has reported flu symptoms,” said director general (health) Dr IS Srivastava.

— With inputs from
Yogita Rao in Mumbai, Ajay Bhardwaj in Chandigarh, D Ram Raj in Chennai and Deepak Gidwani in Lucknow