Swine flu: EU committee sees no need for pre-emptive school closures
The EU Health Security Committee has declared that there is currently no need for pre-emptive mass school closures because of H1N1 swine flu. However, member states should close schools reactively upon infection being found among students.
"The benefit of such an approach clearly depends on timely action. Furthermore, to ensure that school closures are efficient, they should be accompanied by other measures, in particular to ensure that alternative gatherings of children do not happen," the committee said.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has produced scientific advice on school closures which can be found at:
http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/health_content/phdev/090720_ph.aspx
The committee also issued a set of options for situations where a traveller falls ill before or during travel.
"As an increasing number of individuals may develop symptoms just before planned travel or while travelling, the EU Member States may have to face the need to handle and manage cases among travellers. In this context, the overriding public health recommendation to symptomatic individuals remains to delay travel and stay at home," the committee said.
"However, this public health recommendation in the pandemic situation should not lead to restriction of movement at the EU borders and travel restrictions between EU Member States."
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Robert Scullion
Aug 16th 2009, 00:26
@lgalea
So after searching on the BBC website (which I'm surprised you use since the UK is a member of that nasty organisation the EU so surely can't be trusted) the first news item under 'school closures swine flu' is http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8160314.stm
Paragraph 7 says 'in the West Midlands where several schools were closed, showed it had "not been effective at controlling the virus" '
Paragraph 9 also contradicts your statement where you said "For your information the British and French Governments have already said that they will keep schools closed with lessons being given on TV and the internet " however the BBC report quotes a Gov. minister saying 'there is no longer a strong case for closing schools to contain the spread of infection.'
I'm interested where you read that the UK Government will be providing school lessons on tv and internet .. a link please
Oh yeah, still waiting on the information regarding the EU owned pharmaceutical companies.
lgalea
Aug 15th 2009, 09:26
M. Borg
Since when has referring to what other governments are going to do is drivel?
Is it just because you don't like it and the truth hurts Borg?
If what I write is no to your liking or is not the truth than present a counter argument but simply calling it drivel means that you have no counter argument because it is the truth.
What are those married mothers nurses in England and France going to do if the schools are kept closed Borg?
The Maltese nurses will have to do the same.
Just go to the BBC website and do a search for 'swine flu' and 'school closures swine flu' and see how seriously they are taking it.
Robert Scullion
Aug 14th 2009, 23:47
@lgalea
Now perhaps you could explain what will happen to all the teachers when the schools are all closed .. should they get paid a normal rate or nothing (they aren't doing any work)?
What about parents of kids, should they take time of work or leave them alone at home, since according to you in previous posts people have to work long hours just to survive. Also for parents that take time off work, should they get paid or subsidised by the Government?
And thats not even thinking about economic output, which will surely drop.
Perhaps you should also note that the EU hasn't ordered schools to remain open. It just has said there is 'currently no need for pre-emptive mass school closures because of H1N1 swine flu'. So if the Gov decided to leave open or close then its up to the individual countries.
Shame you can't tell the difference between the 27 EU member states and the EU .. but then again you don't really understand, and just believe the nonsense that you speak.
M. Borg
Aug 14th 2009, 18:13
@lgalea Anyone who reads the Times online is now accustomed of your politically-driven, senseless drivel but even this takes this biscuit! I'm really glad I'm not on what you are taking. To even think something on the lines of what you wrote must take a truly warped mind @Joe Grima What are you going to do if schools close? Keep those children locked inside for the whole autumn and winter not allowing them contact with anyone? What about the effect on the economy by their working mothers? Imagine if the married nurses in our Health Dept had to stay away from our hospitals because their children needed looking after? For goodness sake, sewage cleaners should not try to sell perfume...
lgalea
Aug 14th 2009, 18:11
Robert Scullion If you cannot understand the argument then it will be useless to try to make you understand Scullion. Min jahsel ras il-hmar ikun qed jahli l-hin. I don't believe you didn't understand the argument but you answered because the TRUTH HURTS YOU as usual where the eu is concerned Scullion. For your information the British and French Governments have already said that they will keep schools closed with lessons being given on TV and the internet Scullion. This means that they don't care a hoot about what the eu and its petty dictators say Scullion. This is what responsible government do and not allow themselves to be led by their noses by the eu petty dictators.
d.attard
Aug 14th 2009, 15:11
anyone knows the latest flu trends in malta?
Robert Scullion
Aug 14th 2009, 14:31
@lgalea
"How else would their pharmaceutical companies be able to sell their products?"
Ah making up stuff again, didn't know the EU owned pharmaceutical companies, perhaps you could elaborate?
Also surely if schools close without any reason, then parents would need to take time of work to look after them, reducing economic output further. Next time think (though I doubt you do) before you open your anti-EU mouth.
Joe Grima
Aug 14th 2009, 14:18
Now that the EU Oracle has spoken we are supposed to follow our subservient Government like sheep to the slaughter in following the EU orders and not utter even one whisper in disagreement. I am trying not be be as presumptious as the EU autocrats. I suggest that the situation is reviewed closer to schools opening time. If the flu situation gets worse, then keep the schools closed
lgalea
Aug 14th 2009, 13:59
M. Mifsud
That's how the eu petty dictators reason.
How else would their pharmaceutical companies be able to sell their products?
The more widespread the disease the more they sell.
M. Mifsud
Aug 14th 2009, 11:30
So are we going to wait for infection to spread first and then take action? This makes no sense especially since we are dealing with a "vulnerable" group! Why not play it safe and open schools after the vaccine is available? Prevention is better than cure, always! I just hope that the parents who put their kids' health first and foremost will not be fined for letting their kids off school.