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Child who had been on trip diagnosed with disease

11:29am Saturday 27th June 2009 in


PARENTS keeping their children away from a swine flu-hit Hampshire school are risking fines for truancy, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Council chiefs say there must be a “justified reason” for keeping youngsters out of lessons, after a pupil became the first at a school in the county to be diagnosed with the disease.

All Year 6 pupils at Tanners Brook Junior School in Southampton have been issued with anti-viral drug Tamiflu – some in treatment doses because they were showing flu-like symptoms.

The child with swine flu was last week on a five-day residential trip to Devon with the school, and it is believed another pupil is awaiting test results after also displaying symptoms.

While parents were at the school yesterday morning, another four youngsters were put in face masks and taken for examination after displaying flu-like symptoms.

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Comments(33)

minus10butchamps says...
12:39pm Sat 27 Jun 09

justify this my mate has a 3 week old baby to think about and his kids that go to the school ...council wanna make money out of it is outrageous .he will stick to his guns on this and i say fair play to him

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wild mutt says...
1:15pm Sat 27 Jun 09

Its a no brainer really,I'd rather have a fine and a healthy child thanks !

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Stoker says...
1:25pm Sat 27 Jun 09

I am only concerned about swine flu because my daughter has an autoimmune disorder. Should a case be confirmed at her school I will have no hesitation in keeping her at home. Parents are entitled to decide what is best for their family.

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goard says...
1:54pm Sat 27 Jun 09

Oh! what a tangled web we weave. I try to put my family where others who have such terrible problems have to be - it is my GUT instinct - ignore all those who think otherwise - you have to do WHAT YOU THINK - there is no comeback it is YOUR CHOICE.

goard

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Condor Man says...
3:38pm Sat 27 Jun 09

Perhaps Clive Webster should offer to pay the fines from his inflated pay packet?

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pomdownunder says...
3:53pm Sat 27 Jun 09

When my childrens school had a comfirmed case of Swine Flu, for the sake of the children, teachers, parents and every other humanbeing that would come into contact with them, the school was closed for a week and the parents were asked to try the best they could to keep their children out of crowded places. The confirmed case was cured and the children went back to school, with no other cases reported. Since then another 20 odd schools have gone through the same process no questions asked. This is the way Australia does things to try and stop the spread of this Flu. Along with over a dozen more reasons stupid decisions like this one is the reason why I am glad I left the UK. The safety of your kids is what is important here, stuff the fines and the idiots that are running the country and keep your kids and your health safe.

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Tobeblunt says...
4:27pm Sat 27 Jun 09

Maybe the parents of the child who contracted swine flu should pay the fine for allowing their child to go on a school trip with flu like symptoms, especially with the health risks.

I kept my daughter from school a few weeks ago with a cold incase she had caught a virus off another student whos parents weren't as vigulant

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IOW says...
5:03pm Sat 27 Jun 09

Tobeblunt wrote:
Maybe the parents of the child who contracted swine flu should pay the fine for allowing their child to go on a school trip with flu like symptoms, especially with the health risks. I kept my daughter from school a few weeks ago with a cold incase she had caught a virus off another student whos parents weren't as vigulant
People should get their facts straight. I know a parent at the school, and the child contracted the virus whilst ON the residential. SHould we lock our children up and stop them doing anything? I would rather my children got it now whilst its in its mild form.

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haru123 says...
5:25pm Sat 27 Jun 09

Tobeblunt wrote:
Maybe the parents of the child who contracted swine flu should pay the fine for allowing their child to go on a school trip with flu like symptoms, especially with the health risks. I kept my daughter from school a few weeks ago with a cold incase she had caught a virus off another student whos parents weren't as vigulant
Very poor comment Tobeblunt, what a kneejerk reaction. We have to use rational thinking in this matter of passing on colds, flu etc. If you keep your child away from school each time with a case of the sniffles, then your child will have lost vital time in learning.

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goard says...
5:45pm Sat 27 Jun 09

What goes around comes aroubd BUT MORE VIRALENT. I would like to say once got (and it is early days)one does not get again - but I do not know. I have a gut feeling that when this goes around a few times THAT is what the Government is afraid of, then keep your child away from school, lock up your grandmothers! but that will be (maybe) winter onwards.

goard

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haru123 says...
6:10pm Sat 27 Jun 09

I am very sure the council will NOT fine parents who keep children away from Tanners Brook Juniors as these are extraordinary cicumstances. However, unless your child has some of the symptons of flu, i do not regard it necessary (and nor do the HPA and PCT)to keep your child away from school.

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IOW says...
6:29pm Sat 27 Jun 09

I completely agree haru123. The council and the school are only acting on government guidance. I'm sure they are taking every precaution necessary to ensure this doesn't spread further.
Also - apparently you don't get the same cold or flu bug twice...so get it out the way now!

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SFC Scott says...
10:23pm Sat 27 Jun 09

haru123 wrote:
Tobeblunt wrote:
Maybe the parents of the child who contracted swine flu should pay the fine for allowing their child to go on a school trip with flu like symptoms, especially with the health risks. I kept my daughter from school a few weeks ago with a cold incase she had caught a virus off another student whos parents weren't as vigulant
Very poor comment Tobeblunt, what a kneejerk reaction. We have to use rational thinking in this matter of passing on colds, flu etc. If you keep your child away from school each time with a case of the sniffles, then your child will have lost vital time in learning.
You seem to be missing the point haru123. As a parent my child is more important to me than anything else in the world. If he were to miss a few days school in order that he didn't end up with a lethal virus then so be it. Education is not and never will be as important as the health of a child. How dare the bureaucratic nonsense that seems to be diluting the values of our society be used in such a manner, to fine parents who are worried about their children.

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newjustice says...
1:48am Sun 28 Jun 09

I will be keeping my child off school until this unelected government get it's priorities right. So all of year 6 have been given Tamiflu, what if my son was playing with the affected child during play time? Does he not get it and then infects the rest of my family? I have a 4 yr and 7 month old to think of, i am just as capable of teaching them at home for a while until the threat has gone and i am not willing to risk their lives because someone else has told me i have to. Fine me if you think you need to but nothing will make me put my children at risk, you can't change my rights as a parent.

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Dwella says...
11:51am Sun 28 Jun 09

Children are learning at school for 11 years plus, so a few days off when they are young wont make a difference. All the serious learning is done in the last few years at Secondary school. And I agree with the majority, I would rather keep my child at home for a few days then run the risk of effecting the whole family. Swine flu may be only mild at the moment but it can still kill the vulnerable.

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Tobeblunt says...
12:20pm Sun 28 Jun 09

haru123 wrote:
Tobeblunt wrote: Maybe the parents of the child who contracted swine flu should pay the fine for allowing their child to go on a school trip with flu like symptoms, especially with the health risks. I kept my daughter from school a few weeks ago with a cold incase she had caught a virus off another student whos parents weren't as vigulant
Very poor comment Tobeblunt, what a kneejerk reaction. We have to use rational thinking in this matter of passing on colds, flu etc. If you keep your child away from school each time with a case of the sniffles, then your child will have lost vital time in learning.
Well it's clear from this story that parents are not take appropriate action to contain the virus. A few days at home just to monitor a child and prevent other students from possible contamination is not a kneejerk reaction, it is common scence and thought for other students.

Besides how many children pay attention in class when poorly.

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Tobeblunt says...
12:21pm Sun 28 Jun 09

Condor Man wrote:
Perhaps Clive Webster should offer to pay the fines from his inflated pay packet?
He's probably saving up for mass law suites after his major cockup reg oasis acadamy.

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Big Boy says...
6:57pm Sun 28 Jun 09

What a fuss over nothing. I agree if your child has a disorder which makes it more likely to die then keep them away. Otherwise it's just another flu bug, ho-hum.

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stuartjebbitt says...
8:13pm Sun 28 Jun 09

a ton of money was wasted on booklets to every house in the UK - taxpayers money flushed down the toilet basically.
a grand total of 2 people have died in the UK - both had other serious underlying health problems.
The media racked this one up to near hysteria, just like they did with bird flu.
If you don't want people in Mexico and elsewhere to die from swine flu - don't buy cheap meat reared in intensive and cruel conditions.



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SFC Scott says...
8:31pm Sun 28 Jun 09

Dwella wrote:
Children are learning at school for 11 years plus, so a few days off when they are young wont make a difference. All the serious learning is done in the last few years at Secondary school. And I agree with the majority, I would rather keep my child at home for a few days then run the risk of effecting the whole family. Swine flu may be only mild at the moment but it can still kill the vulnerable.
Whilst I agree with most of your comments and would keep my own child at home in this situation, I feel that I must pull you up on one part of your comment. The serious learning of a child happens from the moment they are born. A child's first teacher is its parents. The more receptive to learning that a young child is the more likely they are to do well at secondary school. So to conclude the serious learning doesn't just happen at secondary school!

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lisa99 says...
10:00pm Sun 28 Jun 09

My 5 year old son is asthmatic & we have been rushed to hospital with croup on many occasions. This virus is very dangerous to people like him, I will not be sending him to school if there is an outbreak at his or his sisters school. The risks are too high and I will pay as many fines as they want - after a very public fight!

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Bright Sparkk says...
10:29pm Sun 28 Jun 09

Young adults have more to worry about (as we will see in the Autumn) than children do when it comes to swine flu. School closures will be aimed at stopping the virus spreading from child to child and then into the adult community when the children go home. 99.9999 percent of children will recover from the flu, only 99.8 percent of young adults will recover, that 0.2 per cent nationally, represents many thousands of dead adults by the end of the year.

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Bright Sparkk says...
10:31pm Sun 28 Jun 09

those parents keeping their kids off school, will you also be keeping them away from playing with their mates out of school hours, will you stop them going to the cinema and to football stadiums????

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jam17 says...
10:30am Mon 29 Jun 09

haru123 wrote:
Tobeblunt wrote: Maybe the parents of the child who contracted swine flu should pay the fine for allowing their child to go on a school trip with flu like symptoms, especially with the health risks. I kept my daughter from school a few weeks ago with a cold incase she had caught a virus off another student whos parents weren't as vigulant
Very poor comment Tobeblunt, what a kneejerk reaction. We have to use rational thinking in this matter of passing on colds, flu etc. If you keep your child away from school each time with a case of the sniffles, then your child will have lost vital time in learning.
You need to get your facts right Tobeblunt. The cild in question came down with the symptoms several days AFTER they returned from the residential trip and were kept off school.Its idiots like you that cause panic amongst parents!!!

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ReadyMom says...
2:50pm Mon 29 Jun 09

The CDC and the World Health Organization IWHO) have voiced concern that this virus will return this fall with mutations that will increase virus strength & create MORE school closures &MORE social disruptions. As citizens we should prepare for the fall NOW.

If we experience a harder fall pandemic wave, it may effect MORE school closures, and disruptions in services we take for granted in our daily schedules (sick workers making for people home who usually are not home, or stores w/ less workers). You will want to eliminate trips out in public, so these extra food stocks will help you get through that period of time.
Keep in mind that while the CDC is suggesting that you stock about 2-weeks of food, water and meds in your home, a 'pandemic' wave of illness can last many more weeks. It would be prudent to use this time to gather 2 weeks, and then increase that home-supply as you can afford. Use canned goods and add pastas to stretch the canned soups, etc. to make a larger meal w/ less money.

Go to these sites for more information and up-to-the minute news on the H1N1 virus:
www.newfluwiki2.com
www.flutrackers.com
For information on preparing for a pandemic:
www.GetPandemicReady
.org "

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ReadyMom says...
2:55pm Mon 29 Jun 09

" Warning Signs That Flu Is Serious

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
http://www.cdc.gov/H
1N1flu/qa.htm
In children, warning signs to seek medical attention include:

* Fast or troubled breathing.
* Skin turning bluish or gray.
* Persistent or severe vomiting.
* Not drinking enough fluids.
* Being unusually hard to wake up or not interacting.
* Being so irritable that the child doesn’t want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Go to website for Adult warning signs.

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pokermiss says...
8:41am Wed 1 Jul 09

Cantell school has just had a confirmed case of swine flu yet they are still open my child is in this girls class and I know that they have had advice from health officials but they are not willing to close the school for 7 days as other schools have done yet they have been commenting on how this is an evolving situation stay posted they should shut the school for the 7 days as a precourtionary measure they are putting my children's and my family's health at risk this should not be allowed

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yvy says...
4:28pm Wed 1 Jul 09

my child is also in the same class as the child in cantell school and i do not belive the school should be open so i will not be sending my child to the school untill i belive it is safe to do so as my childs health is what matters to me fine ill fight it all the way

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Vconfused says...
5:44pm Mon 6 Jul 09

So you know better than the doctors?

The fact is it is now uncontainable, so most people will get it eventually. If a child has extra medical needs then fine, keep them at home. Also the incubation period is anything from a few days to a week, so if your child is in the same class, chances are they have already been exposed.

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rebel1 says...
8:53pm Tue 7 Jul 09

swine flu was confirmed at my daughters school yesterday(hardley school) My daughter has a cold so I have kept her home although the school remains open.

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claire02 says...
10:09pm Tue 14 Jul 09

I was told today by a member of staff from my son/daughters school that not only are there 2 children off with suspected swine flu but her son is waiting to be confirmed as well. there are two things that have worried me about this 1st is the member of staff herself went to worked today and she works in the kitchen preparing school meals!! and 2nd the school Stoke Juniors (Bishopstoke Hampshire)their reply was "Well they could catch it in a que at Sainsburys" I would like to stress that school children are sat in classes all together, there hygiene when it comes to hand washing is....well not the best, and if nits and viral infections spread that easy swine flu whats??? asked permission first?? The school refused to confirm any cases now when asked saying they dont have to. We also have a young baby at home who if (god forbid contracted it) would not be able to tell us they felt unwell. I ask the question if a 6 year old girl that was healthy died from the problem is the plan to let others die?
Lets look back to Mr Blair did his child ever have the MMR jab?? that seemed to disappear in the press. I am not risking my children's health and safety and well being all because some politician says i have to. What is the Health & Saftey's view on this or are they just puppets to.

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zara attridge says...
9:55am Wed 15 Jul 09

we live in Orpington and it's rife here, i have kept my son off school since last week due to a teacher and students coming down with swine flu, most in different years too, my daughters schools have now got it too, so they will be off too, the education people can bang on my door all they like as i gave birth to my children for life not to put them at risk, any risk. not only that but my husband is quite poorly with other illnesses and doesn't need anything else to worsen his condition....

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Tinygremlin says...
4:38pm Fri 24 Jul 09

When it comes to the government and people in charge or who have authority, they usually wait until it is too late anyway!

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