Swine Flu Hits Linlithgow Academy

Almost a quarter (300) pupils at Linlithgow Academy have called in sick over the last few days, 135 of these have shown flu like symptoms, over 100 are suspected of having swine flu. At Linlithgow Primary School which adjoins the campus a further 40 pupils out of a roll of 415 are off sick.

All parents of both schools have been written to and the council is following Government advise at this time and not shutting the schools. The high incidence rate may be the indication of a fresh cluster developing as the weather took a sudden turn for the colder over the last few days. Similar to the one in Dunoon in the first series of outbreaks.

West Lothian Council's director of education Gordon Ford said:

"We are following government guidance on managing this outbreak and there are no plans to close schools at this time, and all children who are not showing symptoms should continue to attend as normal.

"School closures will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, for example, if enough staff are off sick to mean that we cannot safely open the school. We will alert parents and carers if this were to happen."

And the director of public health for NHS Lothian Dr Allison McCallum added:

"We are working closely with West Lothian Council following reports of a number of pupils with flu-like symptoms in the Linlithgow area. This situation is being closely monitored."

Everyone in the area is encouraged maintain good personal hygiene to help prevent the spread of germs.

From the NHS page describing Swine Flu symptoms:

If you or a member of your family has a fever or high temperature (over 38°C/100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms, you may have swine flu:

• unusual tiredness,
• headache,
• runny nose,
• sore throat,
• shortness of breath or cough,
• loss of appetite,
• aching muscles,
• diarrhoea or vomiting.

Please check the page and follow the advise on the Scottish Government website if you are covered by the above.