Schools calm but parents worried

While in Maharashtra parents and teachers are blaming the government for bungling the case of the first swine flu victim, in Delhi, which has recorded the highest number of positive swine flu cases in the country, school principals are all praise for the state government.

While in Maharashtra parents and teachers are blaming the government for bungling the case of the first swine flu victim, in Delhi, which has recorded the highest number of positive swine flu cases in the country, school principals are all praise for the state government.

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“The government is quick to respond and particularly when it comes to handling cases of youngsters. It is because of their close monitoring and good thinking that we have been able to curb the virus from spreading like wild fire,” said Ameeta Wattal, principal of Springdales School, Pusa Road.

Even at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, which recorded the first case of swine flu in a student, principal Anuradha Joshi said there was “no panic situation”.

“Ever since we had our first swine flu case, which was three weeks ago, we have been keeping a close tab on the health of our students. We are prompt to send home any child showing symptoms of flu,” said Joshi.

However, parents are worried with cases of swine flu steadily mounting.

“I take precautions like not sending my kids over to someone else's house if they are ill or asking my children to stay away from those with fever.”

Some parents are also finding it difficult to differentiate between seasonal flu and swine flu. They say the government should allow private OPDs to conduct tests to detect the flu.

“Since a lot of children are exhibiting signs of flu it would be easier if these tests were available in OPDs,” said Shamita Mathur, 34, who is a mother of a five-year-old studying at Sanskriti School.
(Some names have been changed)