TAIF: The Directorate of Education in Taif has ordered the establishments supervising the cleaning of girls’ school to clean and sterilize one of its schools. It allocated one room for the isolation of girls and teachers if they are infected with the swine flu virus.

A number of parents and teachers in Al-Quaisim Primary School were upset because of what they felt was a cover-up of the fact that a number of pupils and teachers were infected with the flu. It was felt the directorate had sought to play down the threat of the disease.

The parents said only a small number of pupils had been vaccinated and said that one teacher had been infected and was given sick leave. They added that a girl at the same school was also infected and is now on sick leave.

The parents said there is a village called Rub, 15 km away from Al-Quaisim that also has cases of swine flu. They stated more should be done by way of vaccination of pupils and teachers and for the health and education directorates in Taif to exercise greater vigilance.

Mohammed Al-Shamrani, director general of education in Taif governorate, said that the rumors about the Al-Quaisim School were not true.

He said the directorate had taken all precautionary measures. The school is aware of infectious diseases in Taif and began immunizing girls and teachers last Sunday.

The school health directorate inspected the building and held lectures for school employees about the disease and how to prevent it.

Al-Shamrani said the establishment that is responsible for school hygiene has been forced to wash and sterilize the building and establish an isolation room for infected pupils and teachers.