THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Panic has gripped the relief camp in Valiyathura Government UP School with the reporting of an H1N1 case. A 63-year-old female inmate at the camp has been tested positive for swine flu setting alarm bells ringing for the health authorities. The relief camp, functioning at one of the school block, has around 27 people including children. Around 65 students are studying at the government UP school next to the building where the relief camp is functioning. Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Deputy Director of Education and Assistant Education Officer visited the school following complaints.
The principal of the school Sreekala S said that three children - the grandchildren of the patient - are studying at the school. "They have flu and came to attend the class. We are anxious as the other students are likely to contract the disease. The staffs are also anxious. We have taken it up with the Education Department and DMO to close the school for a week or 10 days. Minister Kadakampally Surendran visited the camp and we informed him about our situation. The DMO has submitted a report to the district collector," said Sreekala. She said that the people at the camp don't know its H1N1.
District Medical Officer P P Preetha said that a report has been submitted to the district collector. "The education department and DMO have strongly recommended keeping the school shut for 10 days to ensure the safety of students. We have shifted the patient to the Fort Hospital and conducted a screening camp on Monday. The children who have flu-like symptoms have been put on anti-viral medicine," said the DMO. She said that timely detection of H1N1 helped contain a situation which could have gone worse.
