Algeria closes four classrooms as swine flu hits pupils

Algeria’s education ministry closed four classrooms in two schools in the province of Ain Timouchent (west of Algiers) as pupils had been hit by the swine flu virus, it said in a press release.

• The ministry decided to keep the classrooms close for 7 days to take necessary prevention measures and clean them.
• National secretary in charge of information at the National Union for Education and Training Workers Messaoud Amraoui warned against possible swine cases among the pupils.
• “There are about 2,000 pupils in schools while the number should not be more than 600 or 700,” he said.
• He added that pupils’ situation in classrooms does not comply with pedagogical standards. “Some 45 pupils are in one single classroom. That doubles the possibility of being hit by the virus.
• According to a source at the health ministry, Algeria did not move to take measures throughout schools to face the swine flu danger among pupils. “The virus can hit various social categories as every pupil represents a whole family.”