With threat of swine flu looming large over the State, the schoolchildren are the most susceptible to the dreaded infection. Swine flu is threatening to assume epidemic proportions in the country with more than 10,000 infected people and a death toll of 663 till Wednesday.
Experts opine that since the children remain in close contact the chance of infection getting spread is high. Senior paediatrician, Doon hospital Dr D S Rawat, warned that special care should be taken by the school authorities and parents to ensure that they are free from the clutches of the disease.
He said that since the resistance power of children is low, it increases the chance of infection. Dr Rawat advised that the parents should ask their kids to gargle with warm water once they return home.
He also said that hands should be washed regularly to prevent the infection. For the schools Dr Rawat had a word of caution that they should not allow the children with symptoms like cough, sneezing and fever to attend the school.
Many private schools in the State capital have issued advisory to the students about the infection. The State education department also expressed its concern for the disease when the Director General (DG) of School education Senthil Pandiyan issued orders to all Chief Education Officers (CEO), District Education Officers (DEO) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) of State to ensure that school children and their parents are informed about swine flu.
When contacted, the primary education director Seema Jaunsari said that all the school heads are asked to ensure that children regularly washed their hands with soap. She said that teachers are directed that the ‘hand wash technique’ before the mid day meals should be strictly followed to prevent spread of infection.