H1N1 concerns close some schools

TEACHERS at a secondary school in the Chepo District have joined others across the province in suspending classes because of concerns over the spread of the A (H1N1) virus, which has already caused 18 deaths since the influenza outbreak began,

Venancio Fenosa Pascual, teaching staff made the decision on Tuesday June 14, just 24 hours after students returned to school after the long break They based their action on  ” the risk situation they face  for cases of influenza A (H1NI).”

In a note to school director Giovanni Mercado they said , staff did not have the necessary hygiene conditions to prevent the spread of the virus A (H1N1) among students and teachers and called for repairs to  toilets and broken water pipes in the bathrooms for boys and girls on campus.

They also recalled that the Health Ministry (MoH) had called on the population to avoid crowds to avoid risks of contamination and spread of the virus.

They added that most high school students are not vaccinated against influenza.

Three schools in the district of La Chorrera also decided on Tuesday to suspend classes

In the district of Arraijan, the Christopher Adam Urriola,school, with 3,000 students and, teachers decided to suspend classes for two weeks.

Evening shift teachers at the  Thomas Martin Feuillet school  also joined the move  to suspend classes.

Parents from different schools in La Chorrera have warned of the poor condition of toilets in educational establishments, some of which are closed.

Health authorities have promised that 300,000 vaccination shots will be arriving from France on Friday, June 17, and have announced that health clinics will remain open over the weekend to provide free vaccinations,

They have urged all citizens to take advantage of the opportunity. The crisis comes at the time of the replacement on Wednesday of the country’s Health Minister. His replacement takes over on Thursday June 16.