Birmingham Children’s Hospital may be seeing the start of an Influenza A epidemic. Record numbers of children and young people have been visiting Birmingham Children’s Hospital with bronchitis and chest infections over the last few weeks. Doctors believe they may be seeing the start of an Influenza A epidemic. Kings Norton Primary School was closed on Monday (01/12) after a high number of pupils and staff fell ill. Public Health England worked with the school to carry out tests which revealed there was an outbreak of the Influenza A, H3N2 strain. A spokesperson from Public Health England, said: “The flu vaccination goes a long way in preventing this illness and stopping transmission to vulnerable relatives and contacts. The vaccine covers the strain seen in this outbreak and also includes protection against others and is available to - Those aged 65 years and over, Pregnant women, All two, three and four year olds, Those in long-stay residential care homes and Carers.” The school was reopened as normal on Thursday (04/12) following a deep clean. BBC Midlands Today’s health correspondent, Michele Paduano reports. (Video: BBC Midlands Today/Michele Paduano)
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 14:16:26 +0000