Swine flu confirmed at Queen Mary's College (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Swine flu confirmed at Queen Mary's College

5:10pm Monday 6th July 2009 in

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ONE case of swine flu has been confirmed and another is suspected at Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke.

A teenager, who is a full-time student, telephoned the college on Thursday morning to say he had been diagnosed with the virus and had been given anti-viral medicines. His symptoms are believed to be mild and he is being treated at home.

The college also believes another student may have contracted the virus. This student is now understood to be taking anti-viral medicines as a precaution, after his sister, who does not study at QMC, was diagnosed with the virus.

Ali Foss, assistant principal at the college, which is in Cliddesden Road, said QMC was staying open on the advice of the Government’s Health Protection Agency.

She added that the students, who are being treated with Tamiflu, will have to be confirmed as no longer infectious before returning.

Ms Foss explained: “We were advised to carry on as usual. We emailed all staff and asked them to tell students and we put posters up around the college. We are reminding people about using tissues and the importance of hand-washing.

“We also contacted the most vulnerable students with underlying health problems and told them to contact their GPs. If we have any more cases, we will let students know and update our website.”

She added: “I think when people at college heard the news, there was a sense of inevitability. With 2,500 young people at the college it would be surprising if people did not contract it.”

Ms Foss said the college term will end on July 17 and only 1,200 students are currently attending because the exam season has ended.

QMC student Lizzie Durling, 17, from Kempshott, spoke of her shock after she was texted at home about the swine flu cases.

She said: “I just gasped, just because it was so shocking. Everybody was talking about it when I arrived. I was really worried. But because not so many people have died, I’m not that worried about it now.”

News of the cases at QMC came as the Government announced it would no longer try to contain the disease.

Hannah O’Neil, communication officer at the NHS Hampshire Swine Flu Incident Centre, said: “We are no longer in the containment stage so there will be no closures of schools and colleges.”

On Thursday, there were 7,000 confirmed cases nationally and 79 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. A 21-year-old woman was diagnosed with the illness in Basingstoke last month, in what is believed to have been the first case in the town.