Swine Flu H1 N1 in Isaan Thailand.

There has been some interesting news late today. I had to teach last period and when I walked into the teacher’s room there was a flurry of conversation going on.

I heard ‘swine flu’ mentioned and that a student had tested positive and so forth. I put all my stuff away and waited until things had settled down and then asked what had happened.

Apparently a student from our primary section had been ill, his parents took him to hospital and they have apparently diagnosed it as H1N1.

There was a small panic as to if the school was going to be closed. Also should parents be notified and so forth? But this hadn’t been confirmed properly.

A senior administrator came to our section and said that they had spoke to the hospital and they hadn’t conformed it as H1N1, but this is a little hard to believe as the students parents called and said it had been confirmed as H1N1.

Someone then said that a large secondary school not too far from ours had been closed today as a student or students had tested positive to swine flu. This school has around 4,000 – 5,000 students.

I quickly called my Thai friend who teaches there and he confirmed the school is closed until the 9th of this month. There is a 5 day holiday included in this time.

Tomorrow is going to be very interesting. How many parents are going to panic and keep their kids home? How many are going to come to school with face masks?

One teacher in our office heard that a student had contracted swine flu and virtually sprinted to out clinic and got a face mask. When she returned wearing it I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Tomorrow could be a normal day of sorts or it could be an extended holiday if the student does in fact have H1N1.

I will just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings and will inform you all when more information comes to hand.

It is funny to watch how some people react to such news, the next few days will be fun.

Brunty