This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8319660.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| School swine flu advice issued | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A meeting involving the Public Health Agency and senior education officials is being held to plan how schools should deal with swine flu. | |
| Schools will be provided with a draft letter to issue to parents to reinforce the Public Health Agency advice. | |
| A swine flu vaccination programme for children with complex special needs began on Thursday. | |
| It comes after three more people in Northern Ireland died from illnesses related to the H1N1 virus on Wednesday. | It comes after three more people in Northern Ireland died from illnesses related to the H1N1 virus on Wednesday. |
| Two of the victims are understood to be children who attended special schools and the third a 62-year-old man. | Two of the victims are understood to be children who attended special schools and the third a 62-year-old man. |
| They were also advised to remain vigilant for signs of flu-like symptoms. | |
| PHA advice is that as long as children are well and not suffering flu-like symptoms there is no reason to stay away from school. | |
| On Wednesday, a second child from Foyleview special school in Londonderry, Ashleigh Lynch, died after contracting swine flu. | On Wednesday, a second child from Foyleview special school in Londonderry, Ashleigh Lynch, died after contracting swine flu. |
| Many of those who attend special schools have underlying health problems and are affected by ordinary seasonal flu as well Jim WellsStormont health committee | Many of those who attend special schools have underlying health problems and are affected by ordinary seasonal flu as well Jim WellsStormont health committee |
| Ashleigh's fellow pupil, 14-year-old Orla O'Kane, died last week. | Ashleigh's fellow pupil, 14-year-old Orla O'Kane, died last week. |
| Ashleigh was one of three people to die on Wednesday after contracting the virus. | Ashleigh was one of three people to die on Wednesday after contracting the virus. |
| The health department said a 62-year-old man with swine flu had died but "it was not the cause of his death". | The health department said a 62-year-old man with swine flu had died but "it was not the cause of his death". |
| A third patient with swine flu and other complex health issues has also died in hospital. | A third patient with swine flu and other complex health issues has also died in hospital. |
| No further details were released, but it is understood the victim was a young child who attended a special school in Belfast and had been in intensive care. | No further details were released, but it is understood the victim was a young child who attended a special school in Belfast and had been in intensive care. |
| Preparations for the vaccination programme in special schools were already in place before these latest deaths. | Preparations for the vaccination programme in special schools were already in place before these latest deaths. |
| Testing call | Testing call |
| Foyleview special school principal Michael Dobbins said they had not been advised to close the school, despite the deaths of two pupils. | Foyleview special school principal Michael Dobbins said they had not been advised to close the school, despite the deaths of two pupils. |
| "Special schools are a hub for a range of services for children with special needs - they receive a range of therapies which in some cases are central for maintaining their conditions and enhancing their lives," he said. | "Special schools are a hub for a range of services for children with special needs - they receive a range of therapies which in some cases are central for maintaining their conditions and enhancing their lives," he said. |
| Preparations have been in place to vaccinate children with special needs | Preparations have been in place to vaccinate children with special needs |
| "Our focus is about being there for our children and families - I haven't had one phonecall from a parent suggesting we close. In fact it's been the opposite. | "Our focus is about being there for our children and families - I haven't had one phonecall from a parent suggesting we close. In fact it's been the opposite. |
| "The last thing we want to do is close, but if we get medical advice suggesting we close, we will take it." | "The last thing we want to do is close, but if we get medical advice suggesting we close, we will take it." |
| He added: "Ashleigh and Orla brought so much to the lives of their families and to us as a school - it's heartbreaking." | He added: "Ashleigh and Orla brought so much to the lives of their families and to us as a school - it's heartbreaking." |
| His counterpart at a special school in Dundonald, east Belfast, called for all staff and pupils at special schools to tested for swine flu. | His counterpart at a special school in Dundonald, east Belfast, called for all staff and pupils at special schools to tested for swine flu. |
| Tor Bank principal Colm Davis said it would "give staff and parents a level of reassurance". | Tor Bank principal Colm Davis said it would "give staff and parents a level of reassurance". |
| Stormont health committee chairman Jim Wells said they were concerned, adding: "Many of those who attend special schools have underlying health problems and are affected by ordinary seasonal flu as well." | Stormont health committee chairman Jim Wells said they were concerned, adding: "Many of those who attend special schools have underlying health problems and are affected by ordinary seasonal flu as well." |
| Dr Caroline Harper, director of public health, said it was a sad and difficult time for the families of those who died on Wednesday. | Dr Caroline Harper, director of public health, said it was a sad and difficult time for the families of those who died on Wednesday. |
| We will gradually make arrangements to extend that programme to all such children and young adults in other schools Michael McGimpseyHealth minister | We will gradually make arrangements to extend that programme to all such children and young adults in other schools Michael McGimpseyHealth minister |
| "I do have to say though, that the recent deaths are not entirely unexpected. | "I do have to say though, that the recent deaths are not entirely unexpected. |
| "The virus is now more widespread within the community and it's natural we will get an increased number of cases. | "The virus is now more widespread within the community and it's natural we will get an increased number of cases. |
| "While for the vast majority of people this remains a mild illness, there are a very small number of people who do suffer more serious complications, particularly if they have underlying medical conditions themselves, or pregnant woman, are another particular at risk group." | "While for the vast majority of people this remains a mild illness, there are a very small number of people who do suffer more serious complications, particularly if they have underlying medical conditions themselves, or pregnant woman, are another particular at risk group." |
| Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride said the vaccination programme was a priority. | Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride said the vaccination programme was a priority. |
| "We are starting on Thursday and Friday to target in the first instance all children attending schools for children with severe learning disability," he said. | "We are starting on Thursday and Friday to target in the first instance all children attending schools for children with severe learning disability," he said. |
| "We will then gradually make arrangements over the next number of days and next number of weeks to extend that programme to all such children and young adults in other schools." | "We will then gradually make arrangements over the next number of days and next number of weeks to extend that programme to all such children and young adults in other schools." |
| Ten people from Northern Ireland who had the virus have died - eight in NI and the other two in England and Spain. | Ten people from Northern Ireland who had the virus have died - eight in NI and the other two in England and Spain. |