Delhi Schools Issue Health Advisories as Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Cases Surge

Schools across Delhi have issued health advisories asking parents not to send children to class if they show flu-like symptoms, following a sharp rise in seasonal influenza and H1N1 cases across the capital. Institutions in areas including south Delhi, Rohini, Mayur Vihar, and Dwarka have reported an increase in students suffering from prolonged fever, cough, and respiratory ailments.

Tagore International School in south Delhi asked parents to keep children at home if they experience cold, cough, sore throat, mild fever, body ache, or unusual fatigue. Principal Mallika Preman advised families to avoid crowded places, wear masks when visiting such areas, practice frequent handwashing, and avoid touching the face with unwashed hands.

In Rohini, Venkateshwar Global School issued a similar advisory urging parents to keep children home if they exhibit symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, or breathing difficulty. Principal Namita Singhal advised parents to seek prompt medical advice and ensure students return only after full recovery as advised by a doctor. The Indian School in south Delhi also asked parents to remain vigilant and report any confirmed H1N1 diagnoses.

Parents across the city reported instances of prolonged illness among students. A parent of a Class 3 student in Mayur Vihar noted her child required hospitalisation after a 10-day fever that was eventually diagnosed as viral illness. Maheish Mishra, a parent of a 15-year-old student at Delhi Public School, Dwarka, said his daughter missed a major school examination after falling ill for an extended period.

The Delhi Parents Association supported the preventive measures. Advocate Manoj Kumar Sharma, vice-president of the association, stated that a student's health must take priority if they miss classes due to illness.

The advisories come amid a notable increase in influenza infections. According to government data, Delhi has recorded 1,777 H1N1 cases this year, including 114 new infections reported on August 20.