China issues strict swine flu rules to schools

(AFP)

16 August 2009

BEIJING - China has issued strict rules to schools to curb the spread of swine flu, urging them to downsize classes and in some cases delay the start of the new academic year, state media said on Sunday.

The ministries of education and health issued a notice urging all pupils who had come into close contact with people infected with A(H1N1) flu to stay at home for at least seven days, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Just over two weeks ahead of the start of the new school year, which usually falls on September 1, education authorities in areas under serious threat of the disease were also given the go-ahead to postpone the start of the new term.

Pupils who displayed flu symptoms seven days ahead of the new term would only allowed to go back to school after making a full recovery, Xinhua said.

The ministries also asked schools to improve disease prevention and control measures, requiring them to carry out daily health checks on pupils.

Schools were also urged to avoid big gatherings indoors, and to reduce class sizes to prevent the spread of the virus, the report said.

According to the most recent health ministry figures, China has recorded a total of 2,537 cases of A(H1N1) flu, with none of them so far proving fatal.