Swine Flu

Update

A very small number of College students are showing symptoms of the AH1N1 flu virus.  However, the national response to the pandemic has changed. The government have moved the status of the outbreak from a ‘containment phase’ to a ‘treatment phase’. In essence, this means that:

• GPs are now able to diagnose the virus on the basis of symptoms rather than waiting for laboratory testing;
• All tracing of people who have been in contact with a sufferer will stop;
• People who may have been exposed to the virus will not be given anti-viral drugs;
• Anyone diagnosed with swine flu will continue to be offered anti-virals until further notice.

We continue to receive regular updates on the progress of the flu pandemic including advice from our local Health Authority. The advice from the health experts remains clear and is summarised below:

•  during this outbreak, the College should operate business as usual – unless directed to do otherwise, we will remain open;
•  if your son/daughter displays any flu-like symptoms (eg. high fever, headache, sore throat, tiredness, sneezing, chills and so on – see the recent leaflet distributed to all homes or contact www.nhs.uk or www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu for more detailed information) then s/he should be kept at home;
•  if they your son/daughter displays flu-like symptoms at College then we will contact you and ask you to make arrangements to collect your son/daughter. We are advised that returning home by public transport is to be avoided;
• contact your GP; contact the College (01403 210822) initially to inform us of your son/daughter’s absence and again should a case of swine flu be diagnosed.

We will continue to update this information regularly as we receive more information about this rapidly moving picture.