# 3743
Over the past few days the Egyptian government has been ordering the closure of some foreign schools and Universities due to the novel H1N1 `swine’ flu threat. According to this article from the BBC, they have now decided to suspend all classes until early October, in a bid to slow the virus.
This comes in the wake of a WHO briefing last week that suggested that early, pre-emptive school closings could be effective in slowing the spread of the flu virus.
The closing of schools is controversial, and not all countries are in agreement of its merits. Here in the US, officials have expressed the desire to keep schools operating if at all possible.
While some school closings around the US are considered inevitable, that decision will be left to local officials.
Egypt’s reactions to the H1N1 virus are more extreme than some other countries, perhaps, because they are also dealing with endemic H5N1 in their poultry, and have seen 34 human H5N1 infections this year.
This has raised concerns over the two viruses meeting up in the same host, and reassorting into a new, hybrid virus. While the likelihood of that happening may be small, it is still a concern.
Earlier this year, Egypt culled their entire pig population, out of just such fears.
With different policies being tried in different countries around the world, we will undoubtedly come out of this pandemic with more knowledge about what works, and what doesn’t, when it comes to community mitigation of a pandemic virus.
Important data that could prove invaluable the next time a novel pandemic virus emerges.
This from the BBC.
Egypt closes schools to curb flu
Page last updated at 11:02 GMT, Thursday, 17 September 2009
The Egyptian government has ordered all schools and universities to close until October in an attempt to slow the spread of swine flu.
State-run schools were due to start the academic year in the last week of September. Foreign schools that have already started will also be affected.
The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that five new cases of swine flu had been detected.
It is the latest strategy enacted by the government to combat the virus.
Restrictions have already been imposed on those wanting to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage in November. Only those between the ages of 25 and 65 will be granted the necessary visas.
Egyptian Health Minister Hatem al-Gabaly refused to rule out an all-out ban on Hajj travel if the outlook becomes worse. A similar ban was last imposed in 1947 due to a cholera epidemic.
