A female Kuwaiti student studying at a private school has been diagnosed with the swine flu virus, the Ministry of Education announced on Thursday. The ministry said that the family of the fifth grader has been notified and she has been admitted to a hospital for treatment. Mohsen Bourgoba, Head of public relations at the ministry, said the case was detected on the second day of classes at a private school during a routine medical checkup on students. The student, who had high fever, has been isolated and her family notified.
Bourgoba said that the Education Ministry continues to adhere to instructions of the Ministry of Health, adding that an 85 percent attendance was recorded at the said school. Bourogba, who also heads the central emergency team at the ministry, said that the classroom has been sanitized and sterilized. He said that private schools have started buying infrared cameras to detect suspected swine flu cases and added that the same cameras will be used during the reopening of schools.
In another development, At least 16 newly recruited female teachers have been diagnosed with the A(H1N1) swine flu virus, AlـWatan reliably learnt. The teachers are reported to have been admitted to the fourth ward of the Infectious Diseases Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Earlier on, four similar cases had been discovered and referred to the same hospital to receive urgent treatment. They are known to have been quarantined at their hostel before being transferred to hospital.
The cases have aroused concerns that the upcoming academic year may be undermined by the spread of the H1N1 virus, particularly since the bulk majority of teachers are expatriates.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry announced Thursday that 443 new cases of swine flu were registered within the week and that most of the cases were mild and did not necessitate hospitalization. In a press release sent to KUNA, the ministry said that the total number of cases registered in the country since April has reached 1,779 but stressed that most of the cases were mild and have been completely cured.
"Recovery rate reached 99 percent and there was no need to be concerned, it emphasized." The ministry said it operated in strict compliance along the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).
It however stressed that people should wash their hands regularly, cover their mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing, and get lots of rest, visit a doctor, and avoid unnecessary interaction with others if they get any fluـlike symptoms.

Alwatan Daily