Subsequent spikes in the prevalence of the contagious influenza B and human rhinovirus in Free State town Philippolis have landed two high school learners in hospital. They are undergoing medical treatment at the Albert Nzula Hospital in Trompsburg.
They were reportedly admitted on Monday, 11 March. The latest incident comes a day before the expected return of about 500 learners of two primary schools after their temporary closure by the provincial Department of Education. The primary schools are the Bergmanshoogte Intermediate and the Philippolis Primary schools.
Howard Ndaba, spokesperson for the department, has confirmed that the two learners of the Philippolis High School were severely affected and are hospitalised. A week ago, three learners of two primary schools were also treated after testing positive for the viruses. Since this detection, numerous primary school learners have been treated at a local clinic, with those severely affected referred to hospitals that include Medi Clinic in Bloemfontein.
Diagnoses involving these viruses saw the provincial Department of Education resolve to temporarily closed the primary schools from 7 to 13 March.
Ndaba said learners from the affected primary schools are expected to return to school tomorrow, Thursday, 14 March.
“A meeting will be held tomorrow with health officials and parents whose children are enrolled at the three schools. The objective of the meeting is to present the report and give advice to parents,” said Ndaba. He said urgent decisions were made to mitigate the impact of the contagious viruses.
The decisions taken include the Department of Health initiating contact tracing of all the learners from tomorrow, the vaccination of learners starting with the six-year-olds to those in Gr. 12, offering counselling to learners by the department, and conducting the training of hostel employees on environmental health.
In addition to these measures, Ndaba said advocacy session will be rolled out to educate the community on the contagious viruses.
