St Mary’s Pune – Diwali Vacation, Christmas Holidays, NewYear 2010 School reopen.

St Mary’s Pune – Diwali Vacation, Christmas Holidays, NewYear 2010 School reopen.

St Mary’s School, Pune will be working on all Saturdays upto the Diwali vacation for Girls and Boys sections.

Half Yearly exam will commence on the 10th Oct 2009.

St Mary’s School will close on 14th October 2009 as scheduled, but will re-open on read more…

Std 1 St Mary’s School will reopen on 14th Sep 2009, Till Prep, still closed!

ST Mary’s School Pune Classes Nursery to Preparatory will remain closed as precautionary measure against swine flu, H1N1 Virus.

Std 1 will reopen on the 14th Sep 2009. Classes will be from 7:35 am to 12:35pm instead of the 1:20pm.

I am all smiles and thankful to my gut feeling when I took the decision to not send my kids a week before their schools decided to close down in view of the Swine Flu spread.

There were some very prominent personalities who proclaimed that shutting down the school will not help in spread of the h1n1 virus. There were a few TV channels and a few Newspaper Editors singing the same tune that the Health Minister was singing. But something told me to stick to my decision and keep the kids away from the school, school bus and all such grouped activites. Later the schools also decided to close down, when one by one kids especially the younger ones started to fall victim of the swine flu.

I am thankful that our kids go to schools where the management uses their own head and thinks through before deciding on any directive for or against the notices from the state government.

Today the school administration should be proud that their decision has not only saved lives of tiny tots, but has taught the mighty WHO (World Health Organization) about the important steps to contain the spread of a virus.

Now the question in Pune again arises with respect to the schools. Exactly after a week, which is the incubation period of the H1N1 virus, there were reported 20 cases of deaths and hundreds of new positive cases. Should the schools thats have reopened again sit to think or should they close down again?

St Mary’s, Pune to reopen on 24th August thanks to Swine FLu!!!

All schools are closed till 20th August 2009. Including DPS Pune, Vibgyor, Bishops, Loyolla, Vidya Valley, International Schools, State Board schools, CBSE and ICSE board schools.

St Mary’s school will reopen on 24th August 2009 in view of the current status of Swine Flu in Pune.

How to keep kids busy at home?

Why keep kids at home in this panic infected city?

All About Swine Flu you need to know.

Where to buy medicine Tamiflu online?

Pune schools closed due to Swine Flu – How to keep kids busy !!!

All schools in Pune will be closed till 19th August 2009, in view of the current spread of the Swine Flu caused by H1N1 virus.

A lot of schools are fumigating their premises.

Both kids from St Mary’s Boys have recovered from the swine flu infection that they got in the last week of July 2009.

A request to all parents.

Keep your kids at home and do not send them to any coaching class, activity class or sports class.

I am allowing my kids to go to their friend’s place by making sure the family has no cold, cough or fever. Similarly my kids friends are also visiting my home. It’s important that kids are able to interact and play in safe environment. I plan activites for all the kids before they reach my home.

Scrabble, Word Ludo (my innovation), online games, good vcds, carrom, chess and story telling are a few good way I am keeping kids around me engaged. It’s still very difficult. 😦

I draw pictures for them and they have to colour these pictures within a time span as neatly as possible.

Another messy activity that they love is cutting aphabets and pictures from old newspaper. Then they have to make a story out of these cut outs.

Another interesting activity that I am planning is mixing the three primary colours to make secondary and tertiary colour right on the paper!

I found a set of very very informative and interesting books which keeps my kids and their friends glued to me for hours. But the only trade off for that is my time.

I would recommend all parents to get this set of books. Its from Time-Life-Warner . I will be publishing a review on it shortly.

There is another fun and engaging game, where like dumb charade, an object is drawn on the back of a kid with only a finger. The kid has to imagine and say the name of the object drawn on his back.

There are many more such avtivites that we mothers can think of and keep the kids busy at home.

If there is any interesting suggestion, you can send it to me or write as a comment.

Happy bonding ! 🙂

Where to buy Medicine for Swine Flu ?

Swine-flu-precautionary-move-st-marys-school-pune

Swine-flu-is-villainous

These are a few sites selling online Tamiflu, that were working.

Remember, Tamiflu is dangerous medicine.

It has to be taken only if you are suffering of Swine Flu H1N1 Virus.

You must talk to your doctor before placing the order and discuss about the content of the medicine mentioned online before making any payment.

http://official-drugstore.com

http://www.mydispensary.com

http://www.top-rx-pharm.com

http://healthonlineshop.info

http://www.drugdelivery.ca

Vibgyor, St Annes, St Helena’s, DPS, Vidya Valley, Loyola High close down –Swine Flu !!!

The following schools have decided to close down in Pune in order to contain the spread of the Swine Flu.

Delhi Public School will be closed till Aug 9 2009.

St Helena’s will be closed till Aug 13 with 1 positive H1N1 cases.

St Anne’s will be closed till Aug 12 2009 with 3 positive cases.

Loyola High School will be closed till Aug 9 , 2009 with 1 positive case.

Vidya Valley will be closed till Aug 9 with 2 positive cases.

Vibgyor High has closed down till sunday the 9th August 2009 with no positive cases of H1N1 virus in Pune.

Bishops Boys and Co-Ed have also closed down from 8th Aug 2009 to 20th Aug 2009, including the holidays that were preplanned.

The first school to take this sensible step was St Mary’s when they decided to close down the school from 6th Aug to 11th Aug 2009 with two positive cases in class 1D boys section.

Today on the 9th Aug 2009, St Mary’s has declared to close down till 16th Aug 2009.

swine-flu-precautionary-move-st-marys-school-pune-closes

The school management have sensibly taken this step as a precautionary measure against the H1N1 Virus on advice of the Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade of Pune.

SWINE FLU precautionary move — St Mary’s School Pune closes !!

St Mary’s school, pune will be closed from 6th to 9th August 2009 as a precautionary measure against Swine Flu.

School will assess the situation on Sunday to decide whether to reopen on Monday 10th August.

Even though no case of H1N1 virus was detected in St Mary’s School Pune, the management took this wonderful step to prevent any spreading of the disease amongst it’s students.

All Schools must close down for a week just to ensure the kids stay at home and do not get in contact with any one who is a carrier of H1N1. A week’s holiday will not make much of a difference in the life, as compared to endangering lives of small kids who are most susceptible to H1N1 virus.
Also parents should take the decision independently, as to what is more precious to them, the stress of sending the children to school now when ideally all schools should be closed down or to wait till the school declares holiday !

Schools in Pune close down from 7th Aug 2009

Read Swine-flu-is-villainous

Swine Flu is known to infect the children more than the adults.

The International Center for Infectious Diseases states the following:

1. What is Swine Flu ?

It is a form of influenza that infects respiratory organs.

2. Why is it dangerous?

a) Virulence – how quickly and spreads easily – H1N1 Virus spreads quickly.

b) How much tissue damage the virus causes resulting in severe illness or death – H1N1 virus seems to be quite damaging to the tissue

3. Why is the Swine Flu from Mexico considered to be a threat?

It’s a strain of influenza that results in the deaths of young healthy individuals.

1 in 1000 individuals who get ill with this flu will die, as per the data available from Mexico.

4. What are the symptoms of H1N1 viral flu?

a) Fever often upto 104 degree Fahrenheit.

b) Chills

c) Severe muscle pain

d) Headache

e) Cough which is often non-productive in normal people. Those with previous respiratory infection, symptoms may worsen.

f) Nasal discharge and stuffiness or a sore throat in few

g) Fatigue, often sever lasting from 7 to 10 days

h) Diarrhea in few

i) Any one already suffering from heart or lung related disease may notice their symptoms worsening.

How does this virus spread and infect?

Through droplets of saliva or running nose , transmitted by coughing, talking and sneezing.
The virus enters through nose when it’s breathed in especially in a crowded place like schools, bus, malls, restaurants or movie halls etc.
Through eyes or mouth when virus is touched by hand. (That is why thorough washing reduces risk).

2) When is someone with influenza most infectious?

After getting in touch with the virus, there is an incubation period of 2 – 5 days which is short. In case you cross 7 days after coming in contact with an infected person safely, it’s rare to get ill with this flu.

The virus is maximum in quantity within 24 hours of getting ill. It’s quantity reduces after 2-3 days, making lesser chance of infecting others.

3) How effective are masks in spreading the virus?

Not much effective .

Wearing a mask N95 mask, which fit tightly on the face can be effective when you are caring an infected person or when you are sick with the flu. N95 reduces the rate of spreading of the virus through nose and mouth by 80-90%, when worn by infected individuals.

A healthy person wearing the mask is not protected.

4) Flu shot in 2008?

No information is available that flu shot taken in 2008 will prevent one from this virus.

5) What and how effective are the current drugs?

No study on how effective the current drugs are on this virus.
But past studies in Canada of these drugs suggest:
Osteltamivir ( Tamiflu) taken orally
Zanamivir by inhalation
can prevent this flu if you are exposed or help in recovery and prevent seriousness.
The effect of these two drugs on H1N1 is still not very sure that they can prevent death.

Where-to-buy-medicine-for-swine-flu

6) Can I get swine flu from eating pork?

No

7) Does Quarantine work as a strategy to prevent spread of the flu?

Following strategies have helped to prevent spread of the flu:
a) Dispersion of crowds

b) Closing down of school/ workplaces/ tamples/ churches/ mosques/ movie halls/ public places.

c) Avoiding travelling / holidaying during this phase to prevent spread or getting infected.

d) Encouraging infected people to stay at home.

e) Air travel does increase chances of getting infected due to re-breathing of air.

For detailed report visit www.icid.com
email info@icid.com
contact Dr Allan Ronald, ICID, Canada

GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZED HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT OF SWINE FLU
City
Hospital Address Contact
Chennai
King Institute of Preventive Medicine (24/7 Service)
Guindy, Chennai – 32
(044) 22501520, 22501521 & 22501522
Communicable Diseases Hospital
Thondiarpet, Chennai
(044) 25912686/87/88, 9444459543

Government General Hospital
Opp. Central Railway Station, Chennai – 03
(044) 25305000, 25305723, 25305721, 25330300

Pune
Naidu Hospital
Nr Le’Meridian, Raja Bahadur Mill, GPO, Pune – 01
(020) 26058243

National Institute of Virology
20A Ambedkar Road , Pune – 11
(020) 26006290

Difference between common flu and swine flu

Kolkata
ID Hospital
57,Beliaghata, Beliaghata Road , Kolkata – 10‎
(033) 23701252

Coimbatore
Government General Hospital
Near Railway Station,
Trichy Road, Coimbatore – 18
(0422) 2301393, 2301394, 2301395, 2301396

Hyderabad
Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital ,
Erragadda, Hyderabad
(040) 23814939

Mumbai
Kasturba Gandhi Hospital
Arthur Road, N M Joshi Marg, Jacob Circle , Mumbai – 11
(022) 23083901, 23092458, 23004512
Sir J J Hospital
J J Marg, Byculla, Mumbai – 08
(022) 23735555, 23739031, 23760943, 23768400 / 23731144 / 5555 / 23701393 / 1366

Haffkine Institute
Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai – 12
(022) 24160947, 24160961, 24160962

Kochi
Government Medical College
Gandhi Nagar P O, Kottayam – 08
(0481) 2597311,2597312
Government Medical College
Vandanam P O, Allapuzha – 05
(0477) 2282015

Taluk Hospital
Railway Station Road , Alwaye, Ernakulam
(0484) 2624040 Sathyajit – 09847840051

Taluk Hospital
Perumbavoor PO , Ernakulam 542
(0484) 2523138 Vipin – 09447305200

Gurgaon &;
Delhi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Ansari Nagar, Aurobindo Marg Ring Road , New Delhi – 29
(011) 26594404, 26861698 Prof. R C Deka – 9868397464

National Institute for Communicable Diseases
22, Sham Nath Marg,
New Delhi – 54
(011) 23971272/060/344/524/449/326

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Kharak Singh Marg,
New Delhi – 01
(011) 23741640, 23741649, 23741639

Dr. N K Chaturvedi – 9811101704
Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute
University Enclave, New Delhi- 07
(011) 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182

Bangalore
Victoria Hospital
K R Market, Kalasipalayam, Bangalore – 02
(080) 26703294 Dr. Gangadhar – 94480-49863

SDS Tuberculosis & Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases
Hosur Road, Hombegowda Nagar, Bangalore – 29
(080) 26631923 Dr. Shivaraj – 99801-48780

also see this site http://www.parentree.in/Parentree-editors/journal-1301/Swine-flu–H1N1—-Pregnancy—Precautions–Symptoms–What-to-do—.html

http://www.parentree.in/Parentree-editors/journal-1302/Swine-flu–H1N1—-Babies-and-Children—Precautions–Symptoms–What-to-do—.html

SWINE flu is villainous !!!!

I have decided from today both my kids will stay at home for a week or two.

Reason, firstly , I think that’s the best way to prevent my kids from getting infected even if there is any remotest chance. They travel by school bus and definitely there is a good chance of getting in contact with dormant Swine flu virus. Since there is still no confirmed report on whether a person who has been cured of Swine flu may or may not be a carrier of the virus. What if the cured person IS a carrier of the virus? Then for next 5-10 days he /she will be easily infecting another 100 person who comes in contact. I as a mother do not wish to live in stress wondering what if’s .

In my opinion, if I were the Mayor or District Magistrate or any one in authority of Pune city, would have closed down all the schools, colleges for 15 days. Since as per the statistics the Swine Flu is infecting more kids than adults, it makes sense to keep the KIDS AT HOME. Citizens of Pune should be restricted to public places like Malls, multiplexes and restaurants as these places are the best places to get infected. Even going to the hospitals should be avoided unless emergency situation calls for going to the hospital.

My son’s classmate was down with fever for seven days. The paediatrician asked the mother to get him tested for Swine Flu. She went to the Naidu hospital which is authorised to do the test in Pune. There the hospital returned her back saying that we will not test everyone who comes here for Swine Flu ! Shocked mother came back and was very upset. Had I been there I would have taken the Naidu hospital to press and made their life hell for being negligent.

My request to all parents. Go by your instinct. If you have slightest doubt, stop your child from going to school and public places. And get him/her tested for the virus. Early detection is better than rushing in the last moment, knowing very well that Tamiflu, the only drug is not easily available in Pune, even in black.
One to two weeks of holiday from school will not matter anything. You have all the portions and books, you can very well teach at home. Working parents will have trouble taking this decision, but the trade off is between the short term trouble of taking off from the office or life long crying…

I am very upset with Dr Gosh from National Institute of Virology, Pune. In the process of calming the parents he passed an uninformed message to the parents about the Swine Flu. He may be right in saying that parents should not be panicked, but he should not have said that it’s like any other virus and getting infected is ok !

So parents without creating a havoc around you, listen to your instincts. DO not send the child to the school for a week. Wait and watch. Talk to the school is they can close down the school.

Two years back my son was suffering from fever for 10 days. I got him to Dr Sewani of Kalyani Nagar, Pune. She said, it’s nothing to worry about and sent me away. But my instincts told me some thing was not right, as my son was blabbering nonsense in his feverish sleep. I got his blood tested elsewhere. He was detected as suffering of Dengue !!!! SO my instinct did come true.

The passage below was written when we were called to the school by National Institute Of Virology ‘s talk on Swine Flu.

Today, we were called to the St Mary’s school for a presentation on SWINE FLU.
Thanks a ton St Mary’s Management for pre-emptive step taken.
DPS also had last week sent a circular about SWINE FLU and requested parents to not send their kids if any had any kind of fever. These measures are very reassuring for parents, as it proves our kids are going from one safe hand to another :). Also, it takes care of the psychology of many over protective/ carefree parents.

It’s just another variant of flu virus. It’s symptoms are all similar to the other viral flu that our kids keep encountering.

Just be careful and take the child to a good paediatrician if the child has SEVERE CHILL , shivering and redness of eyes , followed with high fever.
Else treat this poor flu like any other viral fever. Do not panic, but keep the child at home to prevent him passing on the flu to others. One can wait for 2 days of fever and if the fever does not lower on the third day, then contact the doctor around.

The virus became a villain only because, when it was detected as a new virus in Mexico, the hosts died , but all had other major diseases to blame. Due to globetrotting, this virus reached India too, but it’s variant got diluted after it mixed with Indian viruses. But the virus is infecting kids more than adults. Hence preventing kids from becoming infected will control the disease in Pune.

How to prevent H1N1 Swine flu and any other flu :

1. Wash hands everytime you come home.

2. After kids are back from school or play give them a warm water bath.

3. Use tissue paper to wipe and throw in a dustbin.

4. DO NOT SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL FOR NEXT SEVEN DAYS.

That’s all it takes to prevent any virus from spreading ! 🙂

Do not try to cure any viral flu yourself, especially do not pop in any medicine yourself that is antibiotics ! Anyways no antibiotic can cure any viral flu as antibiotics are for bacterias , not for viruses :).

A good site http://www.parentree.in/Parentree-editors/journal-1302/Swine-flu–H1N1—-Babies-and-Children—Precautions–Symptoms–What-to-do—.html

To know or report about SWINE FLU contact :
www.niv.co.in

www.edc.org

Dr. Ms. Chadha
Deputy Dir- Influenza
Ph Nos – 020-26006247 / 26006217
email add – basua@icmt.org. in