Bengaluru School Shuts After 500+ Students, 21 Staff Fall Ill; 2 H1N1 Cases Confirmed

More than 500 students and 21 staff members at Clarence High School in Richards Town, Bengaluru, reported flu-like symptoms like fever, cough, cold and body aches and the school has been closed as a precautionary measure. There have been at least 2 confirmed cases of H1N1.

The flu is said to have rapidly spread throughout the school campus and symptoms reported included mild fever, cough and body pain in both students and staff. One of the staff members is being treated at Bangalore Baptist Hospital, the school stated in a letter. However, the flu is not H1N1.

Clarence High School Closes August 18th

In order to be safe, Clarence High School has declared that it will be closed until August 18th until the situation is under control. The school has also turned to the education and health authorities for intervention.

This development has led to concerns among parents and school community as respiratory infections are prevalent during this season in Bengaluru. The illnesses reported should not all be referred to as H1N1, however, as there have been only two cases confirmed to date.

Clarence High School Raises Concerns Over Street Food and Sanitation 

In addition to the disease, the school has expressed worries regarding street food vendors and sanitation within the school premises. In the communication, the management stated that the dirty environment and waste disposal around the school might be a health hazard.

The school also identified congestion due to vendors around the kindergarten gate on Clarke Road and specifically highlighted one food vendor at the Pottery Road-John Armstrong Road intersection. It has called for food vending checks near the school and increased civic enforcement at schools.

What Should Parents Know

The reported cases come amid a seasonal increase in respiratory infections in Bengaluru. Regular hand hygiene, covering the mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing, ensuring ventilation and staying at home if unwell will help to minimise the spread of respiratory infections.

The first thing parents are concerned about is the health of their children and staff, and that children who are ill get the proper medical care. The school has stated that it is cooperating with authorities and looking for preventive measures in its premises.

The situation at Clarence High school has also raised the profile of school health, hygiene, sanitation and infection prevention in schools, especially during seasons when infectious diseases are spreading.