 More schoolchildren complain of gastric flu symptoms
Tuesday October 10, 12:17 PM
SINGAPORE : More schoolchildren have complained of gastric flu symptoms.
This comes in the wake of reports that more than 500 children from several schools were affected last week by norovirus gastroenteritis, which causes gastric flu.
41 new cases were reported at Stamford Primary School on Monday.
14 students reported sick from home.
27 attended classes but went home after complaining they felt sick.
This brings the total number of students who have shown symptoms of gastric flu to 285 since last week.
Over at Maris Stella High Primary, 20 students had symptoms of gastric flu last week.
On Monday, four called in sick and did not attend classes.
The Health Ministry is currently investigating the matter.
But the fact that students are falling ill, even after massive cleaning has been conducted at the premises at Stamford and Maris Stella High Primary, with stringent checks by the National Environment Agency, has led some to suspect that the underlying reason may be exam jitters.
Anthony Tan, Principal, Maris Stella High (Primary) School, said, "Normally during exam periods, students tend to be a bit nervous. There are some symptoms...children will sometimes vomit or have diarrhoea. This is quite common..."
Psychiatrists Channel News Asia spoke to agree but say having a fever makes a huge difference.
Dr Ang Yong Guan, Consultant Psychiatrist, Institute of Mental Health, said, "If fever is present, then it is unlikely to be psychological. Having fever or not having fever becomes a good useful indicator. But having said that, of course you can have mild gastric flu which may not produce fever at all. I would safely say that exam (periods) being a stressful time, it would have caused a lowered immunity and made these children more prone to gastric flu."
Parents are advised to pay more attention to their children's well-being during exam periods.
Schools have been asked to screen students, staff, canteen vendors and visitors for gastric flu symptoms.
The Public Utilities Board has said water samples taken from the affected schools - Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Maris Stella High Primary, Ang Mo Kio Secondary and Stamford Primary School - show that the water is safe for drinking.
Mr Chong Hou Chun, Director, Water Supply (Network) also said, "The current norovirus cases are not related to the blending of NEWater with the reservoir waters. NEWater is ultra-clean, and only 5mgd of NEWater (about 1 percent of total daily water consumption) is blended with reservoir waters and undergoes further treatment before being supplied to customers." - CNA/ms  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | 
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