Tulla school pupil confirmed with swine flu

There have been a small number of suspected and confirmed cases of swine flu amongst pupils in Mid-Clare primary and secondary schools. One pupil at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla has been confirmed with swine flu. It is understood that the child developed flu-like symptoms last weekend and is now being kept at home while treatment is administered.

St Joseph’s principal, Jim Cooney, told The Clare Champion on Wednesday that there is only one confirmed case to the best of his knowledge and noted that the school has not been informed of any other suspected cases involving pupils who were being kept home from school.
Mr Cooney said the school contacted the Health Service Executive (HSE) who informed them of the necessary procedures to combat the flu, which are already in place.
In fact, Mr Cooney pointed out that the school had exceeded the HSE guidelines for staff and pupils and remained vigilant.
Once a child developed flu-like symptoms, he said that parents had been advised to keep the child at home and to update the school on their medical condition.
In a Clare Champion survey of schools in the Ennis area, Ennis National School acting principal, Garry Stack said that one parent withdrew three children from the school as a precautionary measure for a few days because of fears that their eldest sibling, who attended a local secondary school, had contracted swine flu.
However, the children returned once subsequent tests revealed the teenager did not have the illness.
Barefield National School principal, John Byrnes stated there was a suspicion that one child had contracted swine flu but this wasn’t subsequently confirmed.
Ennis Community College, Coláiste Mhuire and Rice College reported no suspected cases.
St Flannan’s vice-principal, John Minogue said it is understandable that parents got concerned about the possibility of a child contracting swine flu if they displayed similar symptoms. Following the return of pupils to the school, Mr Minogue said there was no confirmed case of swine flu involving any pupil.
Official figures have revealed there were 65 confirmed cases of swine flu in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary at the start of this month.
Up to September 1, there were 801 confirmed cases notified in Ireland, while children and young adults remain the most affected groups with 84% of patients being under 35 years of age. Clinical illness continues to be mild in the majority of cases.