By Invera Arjoon Thursday, October 22 2009

As the country continues to react to the spread of the Influenza A/H1N1, or swine flu, Newsday yesterday received unconfirmed reports that students and staff at Presentation College had contracted the virus.

Sources at the school on Carib Street, San Fernando said one student has been hospitalised while another is awaiting results from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) and a staff member, who is the parent of one of the students, has also become ill.

Sources also said about 11 staff members stayed away from school on Tuesday and yesterday, along with a large number of students.

Students at the school yesterday said they have been hearing rumours but no official announcements were made.

One source said students who have used the choir/music room, which is air- conditioned and sealed, have been becoming ill and the school’s maintenance staff were on Tuesday seen “sprinkling bleach on the corridors and walls at the school.”

An official said there have been no confirmed cases of the swine flu virus at the school and they have not been contacted by the parents of the students who are ill.

“We are not aware any student was hospitalised. We have sent home a number of students who displayed flu-like symptoms and at least two staff members, this is simply in keeping with the protocols set by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.”

Responding to claims that the students were becoming ill after using the music room the official said, “We have taken the decision to stop morning assemblies and gatherings at the music room but stressed it was just a precautionary measure.”