'Mild' swine flu spreading rapidly in Haringey (From Haringey Independent)

'Mild' swine flu spreading rapidly in Haringey

9:11am Tuesday 30th June 2009 in

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NUMBERS of swine flu cases have risen so rapidly in Haringey that it can no longer be contained, said the director of public health.

The news comes a day after St Paul's and All Hallows School, in Tottenham reopened after it was closed owing to an outbreak of the virus - the second primary school in the borough.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said Haringey has reached "sustained community transmission" meaning swine flu is spreading rapidly throughout the borough.

The HPA said it was "no longer realistic" to try and limit the spread.

In a joint statement Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, and Eugenia Cronin, joint director of public health, assured residents the vast majority of cases were relatively mild and that most people were making a full recovery.

The pair added: "Due to the number of cases of flu in London it is now judged by the Health Protection Agency that there would be very limited benefits in school closures, which would be outweighed by the wider harm to children's education and welfare and disruption to the life of communities.

"Therefore, without compelling reasons like staff shortages, it is not expected that further school closures will be recommended."

Campsbourne School, in Hornsey, was closed from Thursday June 18 to Wednesday June 24, and is back to business at usual.

The pressure on the NHS has also led the director to ask the public to not attend GP surgeries or accident and emergency departments if they have experience swine-flu symptoms such as high fever or vomiting.

Anyone with concerns has been asked to telephone their surgery or NHS Direct on 0845 4647. They can also use the symptom checker online at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk