Swine flu rumours at Perth Academy denied

Sep 8 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

EDUCATION chiefs insisted yesterday that swine flu was not to blame for unusually high absentee numbers at a Perth school.

Rumours sweeping the Fair City yesterday suggested that bosses at Perth Academy were preparing to implement emergency measures, including the school’s closure, in the wake of up to 140 pupils being posted missing from classes.

But a Perth and Kinross Council spokesman denied there had been a major outbreak of swine flu, or any other virus, at the Murray Place school, which has more than 1000 pupils.

“The absence rate at the Academy is higher than usual at the moment,” the spokesman told the PA yesterday.

“This is due to various types of illness, and the sixth years being away just now at open days.

“However, there is no truth at all in the rumour that the school will have to close.”

According to local authority figures, Perth Academy had 76 confirmed medical absences among its pupil population last Friday.

Yesterday, the number of absent pupils had risen to 88.

Perth Academy’s new rector, Andrew Smith, wrote to parents last week confirming that cases of swine flu had been diagnosed at the school since the start of term on August 19.

In his letter, Mr Smith strongly urged parents to keep their children at home if they fall ill.

“As you may be aware, cases of Influenza A (H1N1) have been diagnosed at Perth Academy,” he said.

“The pupils are recuperating at home and all appropriate steps have been taken to prevent spread of infection.

“All the decisions about what needs to happen at Perth Academy are being made jointly between the school and the NHS Tayside’s own health protection team.

“If your child becomes unwell with a flu-like illness, you must not let them return to school until they have made a good recovery.”