AMMAN- Authorities on Monday decided to suspend a class in Al Ittihad Private School in Amman for one week after a 16-year-old student was diagnosed with H1N1 (swine) flu.
Another class was suspended in Ader Elementary School in Karak after a fourth grade student was diagnosed with the virus, according to the health ministry.
Under regulations agreed upon by the ministries of health and education, in instances where one swine flu case is detected in a school, only the classroom where the case was confirmed should be closed.
However, if more than one case is confirmed in multiple classes, the school should be closed down for one week, and two weeks in the case of kindergartens and nursery schools.
Also yesterday, the Ministry of Health confirmed four new cases among students in Durrat Islam Elementary School, where four students were previously diagnosed with the disease.
The new cases are Jordanian students, two of them in the fourth grade and two in the sixth grade.
Health Ministry Primary Healthcare Director Adel Bilbeisi said the patients were hospitalised and are currently receiving treatment at Prince Hamzah Hospital.
"We call on parents and teachers to stay alert, in case any of their children or students develop symptoms," Bilbeisi told The Jordan Times yesterday, adding that the ministry expects to register more cases in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) issued a circular yesterday warning the public against pharmacies and companies that claim to sell swine flu vaccines.
In a statement sent to The Jordan Times, the JFDA stressed that no swine flu vaccine has been developed yet, and citizens should not purchase any product claiming to inoculate against the H1N1 virus.
By Khetam Malkawi
© Jordan Times 2009
