A primary school headteacher has described a surge in pupil illness as reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic, after 170 children were absent from his school on a single day.
'A Very Challenging Time' for School Community
Brian Guthrie, principal of Ebrington Primary School in Northern Ireland, said the situation last week was worse for attendance than during the worst parts of the pandemic. He told BBC's North West Today that the high absence levels had severely impacted learning, with teachers unable to conduct normal literacy and numeracy lessons.
Some pupils required hospital treatment, with a small number admitted last week. The school's classroom assistants were also hit by illness, compounding the challenges. The outbreak was not limited to influenza, with many students suffering from stomach bugs, sore throats, and other seasonal ailments.
Mutated Virus Drives Surge in Cases
Public health data reveals a sharp increase in flu activity across Northern Ireland. Confirmed cases among adults and children have more than tripled in the last two weeks, rising from 273 to 954. Experts warn this year's outbreak could be the worst in a decade.
This severity is linked to a specific seasonal flu virus, known as H3, which randomly mutated during the summer. This mutation makes it more effective at evading natural immunity, rendering it more infectious. The strain appears to be having a more significant impact on children than usual flu types.
Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the Public Health Authority (PHA), confirmed that case numbers are expected to rise further. Data for the week ending November 30 showed that under-fives had the highest number of confirmed flu cases of any age group.
Flu Vaccine SOS as Uptake Lags
In response to the escalating situation, health officials have issued renewed calls for vaccination. The NHS flu jab is a critical line of defence, taking about seven to ten days to become effective.
In Northern Ireland, free flu vaccines are available for:
- All pre-school children aged two and over.
- All primary and secondary school children.
- People aged 65 and over, pregnant women, and those with underlying health conditions.
- Care-home residents and health and social care workers.
Vaccines can be accessed via GPs, community pharmacies, school programmes, and local Trust clinics. Dr McClean stated that the vaccine reduces a child's likelihood of needing hospital treatment by approximately 70%.
Despite this, uptake remains a concern. PHA figures indicate that fewer than 50% of children across all age groups have received the vaccine. Furthermore, Dr McClean noted that about 40 schools in Northern Ireland had not yet been visited by the school vaccination programme, which aims to cover roughly 1,200 schools.
With positive tests and flu-related hospital admissions having almost doubled in a recent weekly comparison, the push for vaccination is more urgent than ever.
