By Kisean Joseph
[email protected]
Education officials have implemented strict health protocols at Potters Primary School after several students were identified with suspected cases of impetigo, a contagious skin condition.
During an interview with Observer media yesterday, Director of Education Clare Browne confirmed that the Ministry of Health’s epidemiological unit was immediately called to the school when the cases were first reported.
The affected students were sent home under Section 34 of the Education Act 2008. According to Browne, the epidemiological unit determined that the identified cases posed a limited risk of transmission.
“The rashes were dried up, so according to the unit, those students could not have [infected] anybody,” he explained.
This matter came to light after concerns were expressed to our newsroom that there were cases of the rash at Potters Primary and at least one other school within the St George constituency.
However, Director Browne said that he had not received any reports about a breakout at any other school, and that he could not confirm such claims.
“At 12 noon [on Wednesday], I received a call from the education officer for Zone 2 about three students with suspected cases of impetigo.”
“I can’t confirm, but what I can say to you is that no other school has reported any such thing to the Ministry of Education. I do not have any information about other situations of rashes in schools like that,” Browne said.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, the remaining Grade 2 students have been relocated to another area within the school plant until December 2, and the ministry has implemented a comprehensive screening protocol.
“The relocated students were to be carefully examined for pimples on their skin, face, arms, anywhere. Any student with pimples should be isolated in the sick area and parents called for them to be taken to the doctor,” Browne detailed.
Additional cases have been identified in other grade levels, he added. “There was a grade six student at Potters who was sent home. The nurses would have recognized, and the other members of the epidemiological team would have recognized that he had the rashes,” the director said.
Browne emphasized that while the situation is being handled with appropriate caution, there is no need for panic. “We don’t want to create a situation in this country where we are shutting down unnecessarily,” he said. “We will do everything that we can to protect the health and safety of all who operate within schools.”
Parents are being urged to monitor their children for symptoms and seek medical attention if needed. “If somehow the children wake up with rashes or anything, they shouldn’t be sent to school, but they should be taken to the doctor so that it could be properly investigated,” Browne advised.
The Ministry of Education continues to work closely with health officials on this matter. Browne stressed that “any matter of public health, the CMO should speak to it” and assured that the Ministry will “implement everything that the Ministry of Health requires and requests of us.”
Efforts to contact officials in the Ministry of Health for further updates on the situation did not yield any results up to the time of going to press.
