Swine flu hits SW
An outbreak of swine flu has hit the South West with the majority of flu cases reported this year attributed to the strain.
This year 180 cases of flu have been reported — 135 more than at the same time in 2013 and 56 of these were reported around Bunbury.
In addition to the A/H1N1, or swine flu, WA Country Health Service public health doctor Naru Pal said influenza B and influenza A/H3 had been circulating.
He said the actual number of flu cases was likely to be higher because not everyone was tested.
Bunbury Primary School reported a localised flu outbreak last week, however it was unclear which strain hit the school.
At the height of the infection last week, 60 students and 11 staff members were absent on Tuesday.
Other schools around Bunbury also recorded high numbers of students being off sick with the flu.
South Bunbury Primary School was worst affected late in August and Cooinda Primary School reported a spike a week before that.
South Bunbury principal Ian Harvey said those infected had taken longer than usual to recover.
Bunbury principal Franca Dillon noticed cases of the illness rise last Monday and approached the health department in an attempt to turn the tide against the outbreak.
Students were sent home with a letter from WA Country Health that urged parents to keep their children home if they displayed flu-like symptoms.
They were also reminded how to prevent the spread of the infection.
Mrs Dillon said the school had 71 staff and students away and only one class untouched by the virus on the worst day last Tuesday.
She said the outbreak was the worst she could remember in her 12 years at the school.
“With a quick response we were able to turn it around quickly – I’ve been keeping track of student attendance each day and we’re gradually getting the kids and teachers back, ” Mrs Dillon said.
She had reinforced good hygiene practices through announcements over the school PA system each morning which she believed helped stop the illness spreading.
Dr Pal said the flu season had peaked in August and he expected the rates of infection to begin to decline.
