After greater than 500 college students fell sick resulting from seasonal flu-like sickness and two confirmed H1N1 circumstances amongst workers members, Clarence Excessive College in Bengaluru was closed from August 14 to 18. They’ve shifted their lessons from offline to on-line.
In a letter addressed to civic authorities, Commodore Prem Reuben, Administrator, Clarence Excessive College, said, “There’s a rising well being disaster at Clarence Excessive College, Richards City, Bengaluru, that calls for fast intervention. Over the previous a number of weeks, our faculty has witnessed a extreme outbreak of seasonal flu-like diseases.
“Greater than 500 college students (20% of our 2,500-strong pupil physique) and 21 workers members are absent resulting from fever, chilly, cough, and physique ache. We’ve got at the very least two confirmed circumstances of H1N1, and one workers member is at the moment present process therapy in Bangalore Baptist Hospital.”
Initially, the varsity authorities had closed faculty on August 12 as a precautionary measure. The letter said that, later, they determined to maintain the varsity closed from August 14 to 18.
What faculty authorities say
A consultant of Clarence Excessive College administration informed The Hindu, “As a precautionary measure, now we have closed Montessori faculty whereas college students of lessons for 1 to five are going to high school from right now (August 18). College students are getting higher. Therefore, offline lessons are being carried out. Nevertheless, for college students from class 6 to 10, lessons are being held on-line. It’s a case of widespread chilly resulting from modifications within the climate. Most college students throughout numerous faculties have the identical downside now.”
College blames road distributors
Mr. Reuben, in his letter, has blamed road distributors across the faculty for the breakout of flu-like signs amongst college students. He additionally cited the situation of the environment of the varsity. “The realm across the faculty is inevitably left soiled and unhygienic, contributing to the unfold of sickness and illness,” he wrote.
What GBA has to say
Nevertheless, Dr. Siddapaji Gowda, Well being Officer, GBA, Bengaluru North, denied the allegations. He stated, “There is no such thing as a hyperlink between road distributors promoting meals and lots of of kids falling sick in Clarence College.
“It’s not an outbreak, however a standard chilly that’s contagious, airborne and spreads from one individual to a different. It’s not due to the meals exterior. In all probability, it was not detected earlier within the faculty. The illness has unfold amongst college students. Solely two college students are detected with H1N1, a pressure or influenza subtype.”
Dr. Gowda stated that, as a part of the Protected Footpath marketing campaign, they may take away road distributors from the footpath, and guarantee junk meals just isn’t offered inside 50 metres radius of the varsity.
Gurudatta Hegde, Commissioner, Well being and Household Welfare Division stated, “Two workers members have examined constructive for H1N1 in Clarence faculty. They’re within the restoration stage now. There is no such thing as a outbreak within the faculty amongst youngsters. We learnt that just about 500 college students have been absent, primarily resulting from panic. No little one has examined constructive for H1N1.
“I’ve instructed officers to check if any little one is discovered symptomatic. In August 2025, round 500 circumstances of H1N1 have been detected statewide. This 12 months too, we’re in the identical vary. The signs are widespread chilly. There is no such thing as a want for panic. They will method PHCs and UPHCs for therapy. We’re conducting assessments for a similar pro-actively in GBA limits in order that precautions will be taken.”
Printed – August 18, 2026 01:34 pm IST
