Published: Tuesday, 23rd June, 2009 9:31am
Swine flu at five Slough schools
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THOUSANDS of people are at risk of catching swine flu after an outbreak in five Slough schools.
There are five confirmed cases in Wexham Secondary School, two in Wexham Court and one case in St Mary"s, Langley Grammar and Langley Manor School.
All youngsters and staff at the effected schools have been given preventative drug Tamiflu to stop the potentially deadly virus from spreading any further.
Eleven people have now contracted swine flu after the first case where a man in his 20s caught the virus last month after returning from a holiday in Mexico.
Wexham Secondary School, which closed on Wednesday, last week is still expected to welcome back pupils today (Wednesday) after it was shut last week.
Its outbreak began on Friday, last week when a 13-year-old boy first caught the illness which soon spread to four other people at the school in Norway Drive.
The Berkshire East Primary Care Trust has held clinics in effected school to dish out the anti-viral drug to parents and pupils.
Rutuja Kulkarni, senior public health lead at NHS Berkshire East, said: 'We ran the clinic as a precautionary step to minimise the risks of others developing flu.'
Slough Borough Council is also working closely with the Health Protection Agency and is now warning parents to be vigilant and take prompt action if their children become ill with any two or more of the following symptoms - fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, body aches, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Anyone concerned should call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or their GP.
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Mark Jones
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Jun 23 09 15:18
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"All youngsters and staff at the effected schools have been given preventative drug Tamiflu to stop the potentially deadly virus from spreading any further." This Isn't strictly true. at Langley 80 pupils were offered it out of the whole school, at a one hour clinic on a Saturday afternoon, double standards in operation
emma
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Jun 23 09 16:43
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All pupils at wexham were given it but only those with symtoms were tested my daughter tested positive but my son wasn't tested
ben
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Jun 23 09 17:13
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I love the Slough Observer - great journalism. The potentially deadly virus!!! Who has died of it so far in the uk? Nobody. Not too deadly. Just scaring everyone and following the red tops. Well done.
xxx
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Jun 23 09 17:18
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Only those children in the year group at Langley Manor were offered the Tamiflu. The school has kept parents well informed and they have not blown the whole incident up out of proportion. The school remains open and I think this is very sensible approach to handling the situation. I hope the Slough Observer does not continue to sensationalise this stroy!
Anna
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Jun 23 09 20:24
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WOW! Damien's sister goes to Langley Grammar!!!
Damien is a boy in my class.
hopefully she dont hav it
amin
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Jun 24 09 00:10
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Wexham Court pupils have not been offered tests or the anti-viral drug as yet. The school announced at approx 12.30pm on 23rd June on their website there are two cases and will remain open, but it was on the Slough gov uk website yesterday midday(22nd June). My child is at home till the school decides what to do other than just wait-and-see.
belle
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Jun 24 09 16:20
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I think you will find the pupils of Wexham Court have been inveted to go back to the school this afternoon to be tested and given the anti viral
Ami
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Jun 24 09 22:14
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There are at least 4 confirmed cases in my school (langley grammar) and the school is still open...
emma
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Jun 25 09 11:05
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more than one person has died in the uk from swine flu is that not enough - in response to ben who said nobody has !
Friend
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Jun 26 09 10:15
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Has Iqra school got swine flu?
lifesaver
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Jun 26 09 17:00
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yes ive heard iqra school has got swine flue...imkeeping my children at home!!!!! I SUGGEST YOU ALL DO TOOO!!!! HEALTH BEFORE EDUCATION
beadswire
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Jun 29 09 13:28
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hi there!
four cases of this swine flu in claycots school ,still open,no tamiflu caps ,i have taken my kids off school until further notice,it is a very serious matter,nobody seems to realise the impact of this ,noone is immune against it as far as know,and it spreads very quickly ,is it hot now but what will happen when it will be mid season and our bodies have less defence
i think we should all start to build up our immune system with vitamin boosters ,
i don't think it's fair for a school to open their doors ,so here we are with four cases in four different year group and god knows where and when they got it,apparently they keep it open as the 4 cases are amongst the same family well to me there is not much difference is it?
anyway ,i keep my kids indoors and won't do too much wandering about, maybe i am wrong but best preventing,isn't it?
chelsey
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Jul 12 09 21:07
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do u no if churchmead skl has swine flu?
fiza.
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Sep 2 09 22:17
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Hi everyone......just a quickie to say that i have heard that IQRA SCHOOL on wexham road has changed its school opening times from 8.20am to 3.30pm.. that gives the children of all ages from reception to yr 6 seven hours of schooling.If you want an opinion of an experienced teacher i DONOT think it is fair? During the yr they sent out an QUESTIONAIR trying to find out if any parents would agree to the long oppening hours,but 99.9% said it was a bad idea. But they still went ahead and with the new longer school opening hours..what i want to know is why despite the protest the head teacher went ahead and announcent that all pupils should be in school by 8.20 and if not then they would be marked down as abcent/late arrival...The whole school is started to be a joke.one minute they are asking parents for their opinions and the next they are ignoring them.That school is being run like a NO OUTSIDE interference zone.the school GOVERNOURS and the school do not care about their pupils or their parents.The funny thing is that just before the summer hols parents were told if they are late picking their children up after/when the school finishes they will be charged five pounds per child.That is if they are 15mts late.But if they are more then 15mts late, the five pounds double in to ten pounds...i donot call that justice.The IQRA school is just out making money for themselves and not thinking about the parents.Those parents who work hard for a living,those parents who might be stuck in traffic and are late picking up their kids....well thats all i have for now,i will keep u posted.bye...And plz before anyone has any funny or silly comments about my letter i'm only saying this because a lot of parents think wha****hink and most of them parents are the one's who work very hard trying to support their families....
drunkman
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Sep 10 09 10:34
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Fiza, Thats absolutely ridiculous 5 pounds for being late is this a wheel clamping school or a school for kids and parents feel that is safe and welcoming. I think not.
Ben
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Sep 29 09 21:10
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Hey, I go to wexham secondary and i was second confirmed case in slough, honestly it is not THAT bad.
farroq iqbal
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Nov 2 09 12:21
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For bloody bev koof sake it is just bloody a flu.
No problem. Just take lemsip andget over it
Anyone who died already had serious helth problems , so like a normal flu kills thousands a year it is no differentings please.
panic panic over nothings and you dont know what the long terming affectings are of this new Tamiflu tablets, if you take it and make childrens in future how do you know they wont come out with 3 ears , lemsip is safer option please
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