Government announces changes in treatment policy
Two pupils in year 2 of St Benedict’s Junior School on Montpelier Avenue are suspected to have contracted swine flu.
A letter has gone out to the parents advising that the children are in isolation at home and are receiving anti-viral treatment.
These latest cases add to the increasing numbers in Ealing.
A child in Year 6 at the Grange Primary School and another at Dormer Wells Junior in Southall are known to have the virus.
No further local details are available as the NHS say the situation is changing hourly.
The Health Protection Agency has indicated that the virus is likely to be circulating throughout Ealing and, therefore, school closure would not have any impact on reducing its spread.
Robert Creighton, Chief Executive of NHS Ealing, said: "I would like to urge local residents not to panic. NHS Ealing is working closely with Ealing Council, Ealing Hospital and other NHS organisations locally to ensure that patients who have symptoms of the virus are looked after properly. Currently local patients have very mild symptoms and some pupils are returning to school after two or three days. If people take our advice and stay home when they are not well, as they would with any other type of flu-related illness, then we will all be able to get back to normal as quickly as possible."
Meanwhile the government is to change its policy in the fight against swine flu.
Ministers said the emergency response would now move to a new "treatment" phase across the UK as there may soon be 100,000 new cases a day.
Health officials will no longer test everyone with symptoms. Instead, they will be told to stay at home while arrangements are made for them to get anti-viral drugs.
The move has been made to relieve the pressure on the health service.
July 4, 2009
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