Rush for drugs as flu cases confirmed
Two cases of swine flu have been confirmed at a Smethwick school, health bosses said today, as pupils and parents queued for anti-viral drugs.
A further 20 people are awaiting test results after the outbreak at Shireland Collegiate Academy, Sandwell's director of public health Dr John Middleton said. Doses of the preventative Tamiflu drug were today being handed out at the school in Waterloo Road which has been closed since Thursday.
The confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus involve a pupil and teacher. They are both being treated at home.
A queue of people formed at the school gates at 10am to pick up the drug.
The school expects to see as many as 1,300 pupils throughout the day, however people showing symptoms have been advised to stay at home.
First in the queue was school dinner supervisor Jean Hart, aged 54, from Durban Road, Cape Hill, who had taken her granddaughters Sarah, 16 and Katie, 14, who are both pupils at the school.
She said: "We came early because I thought there would be lots of people and I wanted to make sure they got the tablets."
Computer engineer Alistair Izzard, aged 43 from Cuin Road, Smethwick took his son, pupil Damien, 14, to pick up his Tamiflu.
He said: "I wasn't that concerned because Damien hasn't exhibited any symptoms.
"I'm quite impressed at how fast the whole thing has been handled."
Pupil Kashaun Heath, aged 14 said the closure had interfered with his exam revision.
"I came because I don't want to get swine flu and I don't want to give it to my little sister," he said.
"I was worried when I heard people had got it, but I was happy we could come and get Tamiflu."
Headteacher Sir Mark Grundy said he was pleased with how quickly the school had reacted to the outbreak.
He said: "Attendance on Wednesday when I made the decision to close the school was less than 75 per cent.
"There was significant staff absence as well, I had 23 staff off.
"When we made the decision to close the school which was the most sensible thing to do, there was no hysteria."
The school is expected to remain closed until Thursday.
However it will then reopen on Monday so that 300 year 10 pupils can sit a science exam.
