6:31pm Monday 6th July 2009
By Joanna Codd
STUDENTS at Corfe Hills School have been warned that they may have been exposed to the swine flu virus after a case was confirmed in someone who works there part-time.
Head teacher Alan Hinchliffe has written to parents after finding out the diagnosis late last Friday. He said the woman, who works one hour a day at the school in Broadstone, had last been in on Tuesday, when she had been on lunchtime duty outside.
“I suppose it was inevitable in such a large community with so many connections that someone attending, working or visiting Corfe Hills School would at some time be found to have influenza A H1N1, known in the press as swine flu,” he said.
“There is no indication that anyone else (student, parent or visitor) has this virus, however it is a time for the school to make sure we are following the good advice given to all large organisations on the Directgov website.”
Mr Hinchliffe said there was no need to panic. “To avoid heightened concern over this I could have chosen not to inform parents … however I do think it is something that you have a right to know.
“The school is fully open and every child is expected to attend,” he said.
He has asked that any pupil developing symptoms should stay away from school and take medical advice. He also wants parents and teachers to impress on students the importance of hand washing.
“I cannot gauge the likelihood or possibility of the H1N1 virus affecting any student of Corfe Hills School – at this stage none has been …. If it did happen, I would let parents know at once and take appropriate action,” he added.
Corfe Hills is a mixed non-selective state school for the 13 to 18 age group with more than 1,500 pupils.
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