Are you reconsidering sending your kid(s) to school this month because of swine flu?

Are you reconsidering sending your kid(s) to school this month because of swine flu?

The results are in.

September 22, 2009 10:01 by Aarti Nagraj

Another 20 percent said that the rising number of flu cases is making them think twice about sending their children to school. According to statistics released by the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this week, more than 3,486 people have died of the virus worldwide, up 281 from the previous week. The total number of cases has reached around 296,471, the WHO said.

But not all parents are worried; 21 percent of our respondents said that they think their child is safe in school.

According to experts, the virus is not too harmful for children: “It’s mildest in kids. That’s one of the really good pieces of news in this pandemic,” said Dr Marc Lipsitch of Harvard University during a recent meeting of flu experts in the US.

Margaret Chan, the director general of the WHO also said this week that despite the growing number of cases, the H1N1 virus has not mutated into a deadly strain yet.

However, the swine flu panic may be winding down soon; 25 percent of our respondents asked “What’s the big deal?”

Pages: 1 2

Tags: children, gcc, H1N1 virus, panic, preventive measures, schools, swine flu, UAE