Panic reigned at St Theresa’s Primary School, Woodbrook, yesterday as concerned parents rushed to remove their children from the compound, following a suspected case of the H1N1 virus.

This is the second school to be struck by the virus in as many weeks. Three cases have been confirmed at the San Fernando-based Grant Memorial Presbyterian School. Teachers stayed away from classes yesterday. The affected Port-of-Spain student has been confirmed as having Influenza A and swabs have been sent to Carec to determine whether it carries the virus. The child has been quarantined.

As a precautionary measure, the school, acting on the advice of the Ministries of Health and Education, relocated the student population to the nearby church compound, where classes were being conducted.
However, as other students started falling ill, parents rushed to the school to remove their young charges. Classes have since been suspended. The Ministry of Education, in a release yesterday, urged parents to co-operate in the interest of maintaining a calm environment for all students.

The ministry also advised against withdrawing students from classes unless it was absolutely necessary and in circumstances where the risk to students was confirmed. In light of new and unconfirmed cases being reported, the ministry said action to suspend individual classes or the closure of the entire school in the event of multiple cases, will be taken on the instruction of the Ministry of Health.