Dubai, August 31: A woman has become the UAE’s second swine flu fatality, and as parents worried about the spread of the H1N1 virus, fewer students than normal turned up for the first day of the new school term on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Asian woman who died was pregnant but her baby was delivered through C-section and is in good health, Wam reported.
According to school principals, up to half of primary section pupils were absent on Sunday but, with some exceptions, most high school students attended on the first day.
“The turnout is lower than what we generally welcome on the first day. Parents have deliberately kept their children back home,” said Rashmi Nandkeolyar, principal of Delhi Private School, Dubai.
“Some parents inquired with us and we advised them not to send their children in if sick,” she said.
Laxmi Pradeep did not send her son Gautam to school for fear he would catch an infection. “I did not want to risk it as my son falls ills quite often,” she said.
The Indian High School in Al Ain saw a 60 per cent lower attendance, according to principal Neelam Upadhyaya.
Dr Farooq Wasil, Director of Asian schools, GEMS said that a part of the reason for the absenteeism is an elementary fear among parents and once things settle down in a week, children will begin coming to school regularly.
Upadhyaya said she is still waiting for directives from the Ministry of Health. “We have instructed our staff to be vigilant and check the children for flu-like symptoms.”
The action plan announced by the ministry will be sent to all schools soon.
–Agencies