4:50pm Wednesday 8th July 2009
By Craig Evry
Cases of swine flu are increasing in west Wiltshire with more schools and a nursery confirming they have cases.
St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon and Just Learning Nursery, on the Paxcroft Mead estate in Hilperton, are the latest to confirm cases of swine flu, while George Ward School in Melksham, which confirmed a case of swine flu in a pupil yesterday, announced it had a second confirmed case today.
The Clarendon College in Trowbridge confirmed they had cases yesterday, while there are suspected cases at The Mead Primary School in Hilperton.
NHS Wiltshire is not confirming how many confirmed swine flu cases there are in the county, and as the swine flu plan has moved onto the treatment stage, suspected cases are no longer being tested.
Today Maggie Rae, joint director of public health for NHS Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council, told the Wiltshire Times that there was no panic in the county, and there was no need for panic, as the majority of swine flu cases were mild, with some infected people simply taking paracetamol.
She said: “With schools for instance, a suspected case of swine flu still means business as usual, because if a person is ill they will be out of school.
“We have been providing letters to let people know what is going on and working with the schools because even if we feel there is nothing to worry about we feel its important that all the parents get the message and know what’s going on.
"In Wiltshire people have been very sensible and when we have reported our situation we have had a very good response.
“I feel people in the county are keeping calm and even being good humoured about the situation and after visiting GPs surgeries this week I was impressed to see all the gels and tissues being provided.”
Today a case was confirmed at Just Learning Nursey in Hilperton in a child who regulary attends there.
A spokesperson for the nursery said: “A child who normally attends the nursery has been confirmed with swine flu and is remaining at home.
"We are working closely with, and following advice and guidance from, the health authorities. The Health Protection Agency has recommended that the nursery remains open and parents are being kept informed.”
St Laurence School said a Year 8 pupil had been confirmed as having the virus and was off school recovering.
Deputy headteacher Richard Clutterbuck said: "The student has been absent from St Laurence this week, is currently being treated and will not return until he has made a full recovery.
"There is no cause for panic and further updates will be provided as and when needed. "Government advice is that schools remain open unless there is an outbreak on a very wide scale and only after consultation with Governors, Wiltshire Council and NHS Wiltshire. "However, I trust that St Laurence can operate very much as usual and especially with such a packed programme over the next two weeks."
NHS Wiltshire said anyone with flu-like symptoms, such as a temperature, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, runny noses or vomiting/diarrhoea, should phone their family doctor for advice.
She added that they should not attend the surgery to avoid spreading the infection.
For more details call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513.
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