Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
This year’s flu season has emerged earlier than usual, prompting some schools across the UK to reinstate measures similar to those seen during the Covid pandemic in an effort to curb the spread of illness. Instances of sickness in educational settings have notably increased compared to last year, resulting in certain schools adjusting their routines and others even closing temporarily. For example, a primary school in Leeds has reduced singing during assemblies and added hand sanitisation stations, while St Martin’s School in Caerphilly, Wales, had to shut its doors temporarily after a large number of pupils and staff fell ill.
Data collected by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the week ending 30 November highlights a sharp rise in respiratory virus incidents in schools. There were 107 reported acute respiratory incidents during this period, defined as two or more cases of respiratory illness among pupils within five days. These incidents include a variety of viruses such as influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and the common cold. Out of these, 17 schools reported influenza specifically, two noted COVID-19 cases, while most were uncertain about the exact viruses involved. This contrasts strongly with the same period last year when only 15 such incidents were recorded, with a single confirmed flu outbreak. The UKHSA also notes that the flu positivity rate is climbing rapidly as the H3N2 “subclade K” variant – a mutated strain of the influenza A virus not commonly encountered recently – circulates widely, increasing vulnerability across the population.
The impact on schools has been significant. At Leeds’ Wigton Moor Primary School, roughly one in six students were absent due to high temperatures and coughs, prompting the introduction of Covid-like health precautions such as enhanced ventilation and sanitisation measures. Elaine Bown, the head teacher, described this as the worst sickness period she has experienced in her 14 years as an educator. Similarly, in Northern Ireland, a primary school in County Londonderry witnessed an unprecedented level of absenteeism, with 170 pupils off sick on a single day, drawing comparisons to the disruption experienced during the height of the Covid pandemic.
Government guidance in England encourages schools to improve ventilation by opening windows and doors regularly, including using carbon dioxide monitors where available to identify poorly ventilated areas. The advice stresses the importance of explaining these health measures to children, reminding them about handwashing, and promoting vaccination programs. Pupils from reception through Year 11 are eligible to receive flu vaccination nasal sprays at school, while younger children can be vaccinated through GP practices. Although mild symptoms like runny noses and sore throats do not necessarily require children to stay home, the Department for Education highlights that parents know their children best and schools can introduce supportive strategies to reassure families. Each UK nation provides tailored advice on managing illness, all emphasizing hand hygiene, staying off school when unwell, and vaccination to help limit flu transmission
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.