A PRIMARY school has cancelled Christmas because of a mutant superflu, as health chiefs plead with parents to get their kids jabbed to “save granny”.
South Bank Primary School in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, said it “would not be safe” to go ahead with its Christmas lunch, performances and craft days.
A “tidal wave” of a new flu strain, dubbed ‘subclade K’ or H3N2, has sparked record hospitalisations for this time of year.
So far, at least four schools have shut as hundreds of staff and pupils are struck down as headteachers have warned it feels like “being back in Covid times”.
Budehaven Community School, based in Cornwall, is the latest school to close its doors following an “unprecedented” and “increasing incidences” of flu and Group A Streptococcus infection.
“In order to mitigate the risk of further infection, it has been agreed by Cornwall Council and the Chair of Governors that we will move to a Remote Curriculum for all year groups for Thursday and Friday this week, 11 and 12 December,” Headteacher Dominic Wilkes wrote on Facebook.
Parents were expected to join their children at South Bank school for a series of festive events over the coming weeks.
These included Christmas dinners for parents and children on Dec 17 and 18, Christmas plays on Dec 9, 10 and 11 and a craft day on Dec 12.
But Tammy Cooper, the school’s headmistress, said “it would not be safe” for the events to go ahead, as it was important to prevent a “significant outbreak” of flu among pupils and teachers spreading further.
“Due to a significant outbreak of staff and children coming down with influenza, I feel that it would not be safe to bring the school community together at this time,” she said.
“And therefore I have made the difficult decision to cancel all Christmas parental engagement activities, Christmas performances and Christmas lunch.
“The children and staff have worked so hard on their performances and we will share the videos of the performances on our Facebook page.”
Despite warnings that this flu season could be the worst on record and peak at Christmas, fewer than half of children aged five to 14 have been vaccinated, the latest figures show.
Health chiefs warned that while children were much more likely to get flu, older people were far more likely to be taken to hospital if they caught it.
Caroline Temmink, the NHS director of vaccinations, said: “As families gear up for festive celebrations together, it’s now or never to get protected against flu in time for Christmas.
“Children are super-spreaders and with flu infections rising fast in younger age groups, getting kids vaccinated is one of the best ways to prevent serious illness, especially for grandparents and loved ones who are vulnerable.”
SYMPTOMS OF SUBCLADE K
Though the dominant circulating strain is different from ones seen in previous years, it tends to cause typical flu symptoms, experts say.
Flu symptoms tend to be “sudden onset”, according to Sun columnist and GP Dr Zoe Williams said.
hey include:
- Fever
- Feeling generally unwell
- Body aches
- Exhaustion
- Coughing
- Sneezing and a runny nose
Flu may also cause a sore throat, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and tummy pain, and sickness, the NHS adds.
Meanwhile, children may also have an ear ache and low energy, Dr Zoe adds.
“Children should be kept off school if they have a temperature and/or feel too well to attend,” Dr Zoe said.
People at higher risk of severe infection should also get their free flu vaccine if they haven’t already, she added.
“Bear in mind that it takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to be effective.”
It’s important to wash your hands often with soap and warm water to prevent spread of flu germs.
“Wearing a mask has some effect and signals to others that you are trying to avoid spread,” Dr Zoe added.
“Each person will need to make their own considerations when it comes to mixing with family and friends over Christmas.”
