Confirmed case of swine flu at Scotch College

Saturday - 6 June 2009

Scotch College will today conduct health assessments for Middle School students and staff after a Year 7 student tested positive to H1N1 last night.

The student had recently returned from a club football trip to Melbourne over the long weekend and then, on return, participated in a Scotch College Middle School music camp at Woodman's Point. Following the music camp, the student did not return to school due to illness. His case has been reported as "mild" and he is already on the road to recovery.

Acting on advice from the WA Health Department, the 89 students and 10 staff members who attended the camp will today undergo health assessments at the School. Anyone displaying cold or flu like symptoms have been asked not to attend and will be placed in home quarantine.

All Scotch College parents and staff have been notified of this case by email and any student or staff member who has recently returned from Victoria or any of the countries of concern will be asked to voluntarily stay away from school for a period of seven days from their date of return.

Parents have been asked to advise the school office if their child has returned from Victoria or will be going to Victoria in the near future.

If students or staff become unwell (i.e. fever AND either cough, sore throat, runny or blocked nose), during this period of exclusion, please contact your GP or call HealthDirect on 1800 022 222.

For further information about Swine Flu generally, please call the Influenza Hotline on 180 2007 or visit the Department of Health website www.health.wa.gov.au. The list of countries of concern can be found on the Department of Health and Ageing website www.healthemergency.gov.au.

The School will continue to work closely with the WA Health Department and Department of Communicable Diseases in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

N.B. As a precautionary measure the Winter Concert which was to be held this evening has been postponed.