Schools alert to SARS risk (From Stroud News and Journal)

Schools alert to SARS risk

A TIGHT safety net is in place as schools brace themselves for an influx of students from places infected by the potentially deadly SARS virus.

After the Easter holiday, Wycliffe College will have around 35 boarders returning from Far Eastern areas known to have been hit by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome which has claimed the lives of 140 people world wide.

But the school is taking every possible precaution to ensure its students and the surrounding community keep a clean bill of health.

"I think all boarding schools are taking it very seriously," said Wycliffe head Dr Tony Collins.

All returning pupils will be screened before leaving Asia, upon arrival in the UK and again when they reach the school.

They will then be kept in isolation at Wycliffe for 24 hours and will be monitored twice daily for a further two weeks.

"In addition to that we're asking all parents in affected areas to confirm their children are symptom-free and have not been in contact with anyone who is infected before sending them back to school," said Dr Collins.

"Essentially this is a very, very low-risk group and we are just being prudent."

The school has arranged a public meeting next Tuesday, April 22 at 7pm in the college's Sibly Hall to explain the situation and allay any fears that those living nearby may have.

"If there are any concerned local residents it's an opportunity to come into the college and I will explain what our response has been, the reasoning behind it and to demonstrate we're doing everything that's practical," said Dr Collins.

At Westonbirt Girls School, near Tetbury, boarders returning from infected areas will be staying at a special quarantine youth camp in Dorset for ten days before returning to the classroom.

"We want to serve the best interests of all the girls and all those who come into contact with them," said Debbie Young, marketing director for the school.

"This is an unprecedented situation and when you are in a boarding school with students living in close proximity things can spread very quickly.

"Young people tend not to be affected too badly but we feel it's best to err on the side of caution."