Swine Flu

Swine Flu Pandemic hits schools

Terror of parents at swine flu school

'Panic' after 6-year-old's death at school. Terrified parents at a London school attended by a six-year-old girl who died after contracting swine flu today hit out at the lack of information.

Chloe Buckley died last Thursday 48 hours after telling her mother she had a sore throat.

Thousands of people swamped a hotline amid fears that the H1N1 strain is deadly to people without any underlying health issues.

Daphne May, 62, whose granddaughter Tianne, nine, goes to St Catherine's primary school in West Drayton, said parents were "scared" and "all just panicking". She criticised the school for not releasing information sooner, adding: "My granddaughter knew Chloe. I'm very shocked and very scared. Everybody is frightened. They said by August they would have medication ready. But what happens in September if things aren't done?"

One father said: "My daughter goes to the school and I am terrified. No one can tell me what I should do, where I can get medication, when people are going to be vaccinated. We need someone from the Government to come out and say, 'This is what is happening and this is what we are going to do about it.'"

At a meeting last night, organised by St Catherine's headteacher Sara Benn and Hillingdon council, parents were told children were being sent home early for the holidays. Chloe, who was due to celebrate her seventh birthday last Friday, died in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington two days after her GP diagnosed tonsillitis and sent her home without prescribing the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

Chloe's parents, Jacinta, 37, and Michael, 40, were said to be distraught and were being comforted at their home, less than a mile away from the school, where they live with their sons Shane, 12, and 10-year-old Dillon.

Yesterday it emerged that GP Michael Day, 64, from Bedfordshire, died after contracting swine flu, taking the UK death toll to 17.

More than 52,000 people have rung the Government's helpline in the past seven days. MPs today called for the public to be given more accurate advice on the illness with some suggesting that inquests should be held in some cases so that a clearer picture of how the virus spreads - and how swine flu can be tackled - can be established.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said Chloe's death was a "tragedy" but added: "People do need to keep it in perspective. Lots of children have already had swine flu and have made a very quick recovery."

He said a vaccination against the swine flu virus will be available next month.

Official advice to people who think they may have swine flu is to contact the hotline or their GP by phone, take paracetamol and/or ibuprofen and drink lots of fluids.

Swine flu helpline (NHS Direct): 0845 46 47

Swine Flu

How the swine flu virus inflicts damage on the lungs

The swine flu virus penetrates deeper into the lungs than ordinary seasonal flu, a study claims. The findings could explain why it can cause severe illness in people with no underlying health problems. Tests showed the virus thrives in the respiratory system instead of staying in the head. Professor Ian Jones, of the University of Reading, said the analysis "shows the new virus is about five times more pathogenic than seasonal flu but that, nonetheless, the major outcome is recovery".

Swine Flu

Preparing for pandemic

SCHOOLS & SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

Schools with swine flu cases have been told to stay open if possible. Exceptions would be special schools for children with complex medical conditions. Parents are urged to keep children at home if they have flu-like symptoms and to call the swine flu helpline on 0845 46 47 or their GP.

HOSPITALS & SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

Hospitals have been told to make plans flexible enough to deal with a range of swine flu case rates. Four per cent of swine flu sufferers may need hospital treatment, while up to 25 per cent of admissions will require critical care. At the peak of a swine flu pandemic demand will exceed normal healthcare capacity.

PARAMEDICS & SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

Ambulance staff are only transporting critically ill patients. If they get calls from people with swine flu symptoms they refer them to NHS Direct - or the national pandemic flu service when it is launched. Paramedics could be among the first to get a vaccine next month.

TRANSPORT & SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

Transport bosses have said trains, airports and buses will continue to run even in the event of staff shortages. Transport for London has said a reduced Tube service would suffice because there would be fewer passengers. It also plans to give staff anti-viral drugs.

GOVERNMENT & SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

The Government has planned for a swine flu pandemic for three years. It has set up the Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (Cobra), where committees are meeting to manage responses to swine flu. The Department of Health is deciding who will be first to get the vaccine in August.

Panic hits schools where swine flu pandemic strikes.