10:00am Tuesday 23rd June 2009
By Rebecca Lowe
THE third school in Barnet closed because of swine flu has reopened after only two days of missed classes.
Five members of staff at The Hyde School, in The Hyde, were sent home on Friday after showing symptoms of the infection, and a further two were off sick with unrelated illnesses.
The school was closed because there were not enough staff to supervise the pupils, but all the teachers have now returned.
It is as yet unclear how many, if any, were infected with the virus.
Several pupils are also believed to have caught swine flu, although reports are yet to be confirmed.
A Barnet Council spokesman said current NHS advice was only to close schools owing to staff shortages, not because children might spread the disease.
He said: "The school wouldn't close just because of an outbreak among students.
"The advice we have been given is that it should be treated just like flu and you wouldn't shut a school because ten children caught flu.
"The only reason you would close is because there are not enough teachers on duty to supervise."
It is believed the outbreak of the H1N1 virus can be traced to the Garden Suburb Infants and Garden Suburb Junior schools, in Childs Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb, where six children tested positive and a further 143 pupils and staff reported symptoms.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommends a school should be considered for closure when a probable or confirmed case of swine flu occurs, initially for a period of seven days.
For the latest information on swine flu, visit www.nhs.uk
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