‘Don’t let children with virus return to school’ – HSE

CHILDREN displaying symptoms of the flu virus should not be sent back to schools when they reopen next week, the HSE has advised.

This comes as it was confirmed yesterday that 12 children struck down with the flu were made to wait on trolleys amid the worst hospital overcrowding the country has ever experienced.

In a joint statement issued yesterday, Temple Street, Our Lady’s Children’s Hos- pital Crumlin and the National Children’s Hospital Tallaght said any long wait times for children in emergency departments were regrettable but ‘not unusual for this time of the year’.

The Children’s Hospital Group said the number of children presenting with the flu was unusual and of concern. ‘It is anticipated it will continue to peak for the next number of weeks,’ the statement said.

‘Some babies and children with this virus can become very unwell requiring supportive treatment and prolonged hospital admissions.

‘We have increased isolation requirements for patients needing admission which is impacting on waiting times in our emergency departments,’ the statement said. This advice was echoed by health chiefs at the HSE.

At a media briefing, Dr Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director for public health and child health, said: ‘One of the most important things people can do about the flu is stay at home.

‘That is the most important message we can get out. It’s very important that people do stay at home and don’t go out and pass on the disease,’ he said.