Millsyisland

Anyone else experienced their school being closed this morning due to swine flu fears?

My son attends Stepping Stones pre-school in Abu Dhabi and turned up this morning to be told the school is closed 'indefinitely' on orders from the Ministry.

Apparently they tried to call everyone last night, but couldn't reach us, despite them having my number, my wife's number and our home number.

Maybe it's just pre-schools as they've announced that it affects old people and under 5's worse, but surely this is an over-reaction?

commander

My daughter attends stepping stones pre-school in Abu Dhabi and we received the call last night

hawkhead

One class in BSAK for one week - email went out last night.
Bet those kids are well happy!

Millsyisland

Betwixt 2 Bridges?

Norm_uk

Load of scaremongering.

Swine flu has killed less than 1% (world wide)of the total people who die from regular flu in the USA alone each year.

The pharamceuticals are raking in the cash from the vaccine orders though...who would have thought?

N.

Kim67

Yep, was reading an article a couple of weeks ago and those most at risk are adults with diabetes or obesity and pregnant women. The elderly and very young are actually less at risk than with most flu strains. Those born before 1957 probably actually have natural immunities according to the current research.

My school was open, apparently it's just nurseries closing at the moment.

Norm_uk

To put it into to perspective more people have died this Ramadan from traffic accidents in the UAE than from swine flu in the UAE since the the outbreak began...so better to not go to school to avoid mad fasting muslims killing you than to avoid catch the flu.

N.

commander

yup

Kim67

haha - agree completely - fortunately I'm on the school run before they're out of bed.

busybee2

this is because there was another child in the same class had possible cold symptons and so the HA said the whole class must stay away.

the thing is tho that one of the children from that class who has 2 other siblings in the school came to school in normal clothes, mixed with her other friends from the year group so what was the point?

busybee2

will they be closing the corniche hospital then and make all pregnant women stay at home?

hawkhead

I thought it was one of the classes that had already had one confirmed case?

But yeah, pointless activity I agree completely.

busybee2

there are two classes, henna and cambridge, cambridge has gone home, because of another child having a cold..... the ha are looking at the sickness levels of the school and if they have two people come up with "symptons" they will send the class home, i believe. but i think that one of the children who has been off school lives in KC, not sure which part, but maybe you will be under "house arrest" too

hawkhead

OK I see - it's the combination of 1 confirmed case and 1 potential case that has the health authority getting their knickers in a twist.

busybee2

yep 1 confirmed in cambridge as was playing with child from henna over the weekend, both kids not been back to school since... but now another child from cambridge perhaps has a cold... so the class not allowed to go to school, but as you saw the email it said DONT come to sch, but of course there are always "one". yep agree twisty knickers.