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Number of confirmed cases in Hampshire doubles (From Andover Advertiser)
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Number of confirmed cases in Hampshire doubles
9:20am Thursday 2nd July 2009
A THIRD child at a Hampshire junior school has contracted swine flu, as the number of confirmed cases in the county has more than doubled.
The youngster is in the same year group as the previous two confirmed cases at Tanners Brook Junior School in Millbrook, Southampton.
Health chiefs say they are monitoring the situation, but they are still advising the school there is no need to close its doors.
There have now been 64 confirmed cases in Hampshire – up from yesterday’s figure of 31.
Meanwhile, a third Hampshire school has been indirectly affected by the swine flu outbreak.
Although there have been no confirmed cases amongst current staff or pupils, letters have been sent to parents at Testwood Sports College in Totton, saying there have been three confirmed cases with links to the school.
A former Year 11 pupil, a parent and a member of the public who uses the school facilities in the evening have all gone down with the virus.
Health authorities have told the college that, with no actual cases on site, it is perfectly safe to stay open.
Parents have been given advice leaflets and have been told that if their youngsters display any flu-like symptoms they should be kept at home and the doctor called.
The Daily Echo was unable to contact Testwood for comment.
Anyone calling the school is put through to a recorded message urging parents not to keep their children off school.
Earlier this week, the Daily Echo revealed swine flu had hit Cantell Maths and Computing College in Bassett, Southampton.
Year 9 pupil Tanya Lacy, 13, was diagnosed with the A/H1N1 virus at the weekend and is at home recovering.
The school has also remained open on the advice of health officials.
All three of the infected youngsters at Tanners Brook are in Year 6.
The latest child had been given a preventative course of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, but has now also been confirmed as having the infection.
A spokesman for Southampton’s Princess Anne Hospital, where a midwife developed the disease after a trip to the USA, last night said there had been no further cases reported.
Up to 17 members of staff in the maternity unit were given Tamiflu as a precaution, while the affected midwife recovered at home.
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Your Say YourAndover
S Pance, Morten Harkett says...
9:11pm Thu 2 Jul 09
There are NO confirmed cases at Testwood School.
Even if there were, swine flu is very MILD for most healthy people that catch it.
I'd appreciate it if the press would stop trying to deliberately scare people.
philipcv, says...
9:57pm Thu 2 Jul 09
The school has no intention of closing, is this right!
AdrianSmith, Southampton says...
8:32am Fri 3 Jul 09
S Pance wrote:Erm, how can The Echo be "blowing it out of proportion" when they say exactly what you say?
Please stop blowing this out of proportion, Echo! There are NO confirmed cases at Testwood School. Even if there were, swine flu is very MILD for most healthy people that catch it. I'd appreciate it if the press would stop trying to deliberately scare people.
Did you actually read the story or just wet yourself when you saw the word Testwood?
Imbecile.
Cynthia, Southampton says...
9:49am Fri 3 Jul 09
what S Pance, Morten Harkett says.
Thousands of people every year who are unwell, elderly or immune supressed die of the normal seasonal flu.
Practice basic hygiene practices, like washing your hands, using hand sanitizers after travelling on buses/trains etc. Use tissues once, and throw them in the bin. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze. And get your families to practice these hygiene measures as well.
If you are fit and healthy, the flu (swine or not) will probably knock you sideways for a few days and then you will recover.
Stop the panic. Please.
Smurf.D, Southampton says...
1:59pm Mon 20 Jul 09
Swine flu hits third child at city school
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Chakka Khan, Chakka Khan, Soton says...
9:37am Thu 2 Jul 09
My pig had chicken pox.
Chakka Khan, Chakka Khan