Chandigarh school closes due to swine flu scare

Chandigarh school closes due to swine flu scareChandigarh, Nov 18 - St. Johns High School, one of Chandigarh's oldest boys' schools, will be closed for a week starting Wednesday because of fear of swine flu, officials said.

This is the sixth educational institute that has been closed in Chandigarh due to the increasing threat of swine flu during the past ten days.

Last week, Punjab Engineering College as well as Chandigarh College of Architecture were closed for a week after some of their students tested positive for the disease.

So far, Chandigarh hospitals have received over 460 suspected cases out of which 110 tested positive, which included almost 50 students.

"The affected students of St. Johns School are brothers and they study in class one and three. We collected their nasal and throat swab samples yesterday and their reports are positive. We have quarantined them along with their family members in their home," H. C. Gera, UT nodal officer for swine flu, said here Wednesday.

"Following this, the school has been closed till Nov 25. Another class seven student of a different school also tested positive and he has been admitted here at PGIMER (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) in the isolation ward," Gera said. (IANS)