Panic in Doon as five students get swine flu

NAINITAL: Panic spread in one of Dehradun���s reputed schools, Doon School, after five hostel students were confirmed as swine flu positive cases. School authorities have declined to disclose the names of these students. These students belong to Delhi, Indore, Gurgaon and Lucknow.

Five other suspected cases belonging to Doon School staff members were confirmed as negative, state health officials said. State nodal officer for swine flu, Pankaj Jain, said the flu was confirmed on the basis of the students��� separate test reports conducted by National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi. These reports declaring them as swine flu-positive reached Doon Hospital on Tuesday.

According to Jain, Doon School authorities had brought 10 cases, including the five students, to Doon Hospital on Saturday as they were suffering from cough, cold and fever. ������Taking them as cases of suspected swine flu, we took their samples immediately and sent them to NICD,������ Jain said.

He said parents of these students had taken their children along with them on Sunday on the advice of the school authorities. ������But we have informed their parents about the health condition of their children,������ Jain added.

Listing out the preventive steps taken by the school authorities , Doon School headmaster Peter Maclagnin said an arrangement has been made for a separate medical staff and a separate ward has been set up to prevent spread of the disease. He said a temporary ban has been imposed on unnecessary gatherings in the school and all programmes have been cancelled.

Administrative and health officials have asked the school authorities to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease , particularly because a large number of foreign students study there.