Swine flu circulating at our kids nursery at least 2 weeks and no one's been informed?

Question

Two teachers and some parents of children who are STILL BEING BROUGHT TO SCHOOL have been treated for H1N1 but it has been kept hush hush. I found out today through a friend of a friend!!!!
The headteacher told me that the government advised that they are not obligated to tell parents and that children can still attend if their parents are ill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am literally shocked to the core! One of the sufferers held our baby and worked with the children whilst unknowingly contagious! And I saw her sneeze!
What do you think of this?
I am ocd about illnesses and I have my own sanitisers etc.
I am interested in getting a normal perspective on this.
Keeping in mind that we could now be infectious, and over the weekend just us personally could have passed it on to a party full of kids, and my disabled sister who I doubt will survive the virus. Had I been informed, I'd have gone into my bubble then.

Answer 1

You said it yourself - you're OCD.



Calm down!



It's at my kids' school too. If we all rushed into a bubble the second someone sneezed, the country would grind to a standstill.



Stop. Carry on.

Answer 2

HI. I work in a day nursery and today we had a letter go out to all our parents explaining what we will do if we have any cases. We have to let parents know if anyone gets it and make sure there's a notice up in the nursery so parents/carers see it. At the moment we are making sure any child that has a Temperature goes home Straight away, and encouraging hygiene loads and loads. Our nursery will not close if there's an outbreak of swine flu, we will be open still. The advice is to keep the children adn staff off for 5 days until recovered.

Your nursery should of told you, if like you said someone has measles etc then your informed. They problery thought that they were doing good by not panicking everyone, but as a parent you legally have a right to know so you can keep an eye on your child adn look out for symptoms.

Answer 3

Are you overreacting? Probably. What would you have done differently? Kept your kid home for 2 weeks? Could you afford that? Most people can reduce their chance of getting flu by frequently washing their hands, as I'm sure you know.



However, the headteacher displays a complete lack of morality. Common decency would tell you that the parents should be informed of a contagion so that they can take steps or make plans should they or the children become ill. Instead, she is only concerned what the government obliges her to advise you - which was nothing. While your activities at the daycare may not have changed, your actions outside of the daycare may have changed.



IF YOU KNEW you might be contagious, you would have chosen not to visit your disabled sister or a friend or relative with a serious health problem, thereby protecting them from becoming ill. Not knowing about the contagion, of course, now your sister is exposed (and all those kids at the party). My Dad nearly died last year because of the flu, so we do take that seriously around here.



What else happens at that daycare that the headteacher chooses not to inform you of because the government doesn't obligate her to do so? I personally would never trust this person again and would find other care.

Answer 4

Swine flu is no more of a threat than the regular flu...does your nursery school inform you whenever any of the children have the regular flu? I am guessing they didn't inform parents so as not to create panic. People hear H1N1 and FREAK OUT due to the media exploitation. It is a new strain of flu. The majority of the population has not ever been exposed to it, therefore more people will catch it. It is no worse or deadly than the flus that go around every flu season.

Answer 5

I think there is a medium here. Yes they should have told you...morally speaking. However, you have to CALM DOWN. I'm scared of it too though, and I understand where you're coming from, but you can't put your kids or yourself in a bubble. Not only will you be crazy about this, but so will your kids.

I have diagnosed OCD, and I'm on medication. The thing that my therapist said to me that has affected me most is that I by displaying such anxiety, I will turn my son into what I've become-a nutcase. lol You know how it is to suffer with this anxiety...you don't want it for your children. They are only young once, and you're wasting precious time worrying instead of enjoying your time with them, not to mention the fact that you're going to turn them into anxiety ridden children and adults. Think about it: they trust you and your judgment more than anyone or anything. YOU are the CORE of their feelings of safety. If they see you freaking out, they're really going to think there's something to be scared of. They need to feel you're in control. Get some help for yourself. This is more about you than the school, but yes, they should have told you. Email me if you want...I wish you the best. You CAN overcome this. I've made BIG BIG strides towards normalcy.

Answer 6

I would be BEYOND pissed! is it even real they are not supposed to inform the parents??? I would look a bit more into that. My gosh such contagious disease every parent should have been informed, but of course they didn't do it cause then they would lose their business (meaning people would rather keep children at home than send then to that nursery).



I would be now very aware of any cold/flu like symptoms from your baby and if he/she develops any in the future weeks I would take him to the doctor's and let them know about the situation that happened at school so they can check that first thing.



Unbelievable, I'd be looking at another nursery.

Answer 7

If I were you I would be very angry about the fact that it has been kept hush hush. Even though they may not be legally obligated to inform you of the situation they are still morally obligated. If I were you I would seriously change my daycare today and watch my kids like a hawk for any possible symptoms.

Answer 8

OCD about illnesses? Your baby has to be exposed to germs or he/she will be sick forever. He/she will develop no immune system if you are never letting him/her get exposed to things,

The swine flu is only one strain of flu. All strains of flu kill many people every year. The swine flu is only one strain. How many kids have had it? They will only send children home if they have a fever. If the parents are sick and the child doesn't appear sick they can't tell them their kids can't stay.

I think you are over reacting. People get sick and still have to go to work. If she didn't know she was contagious how is she at fault? Just pull her out of daycare. Usually they don't inform parents unless it is affecting everyone and they need to close the school. Ask them to inform you from now on.

If you are OCD about germs and illnesses, daycare is the last place you should have your child.

Answer 9

they should of told you! if they didn't have to tell you then why is it many other schools have been closed already! its a disgrace i would get together with the other parents and make a formal complete.



When are kids are sick with pink eye or a freaking cough they make us keep our kids at home but this woman was allowed to have swine flu! its a joke

Answer 10

i worked at a day care center and i would think that if they were obligated to tell parents about children having strep throat then i would think they would have the same obligation to tell them about people having the swine flu i do not think that it is right that they did not inform the parents of this no they are not obligated to tell you who had it but they are obligated to tell you that there was at least one case of it

Answer 11

I am not sure what the rules of your state are but I would check into it with the health department and the state that licenses and inspects nurseries. They should give you a better answer and also check out the facility to make sure that all regulations are being followed.

Answer 12

I would have thought that the school had a duty to protect children, and therefor I think you and all the other parents should have been informed

Answer 13

you could sue the nursery school for not informing you of this important detail. also go look for another nursery school that is cleaner and where considerate parent don't take there sick kids too

Answer 14

people this can kill of course she has the right to be abgry my lord if itwas your kid would u care i think you are reacting the way any loving mother would-kristy