Beijing trip: Seven teachers who recently returned from a trip to Beijing have been told by their employers to keep alert for symptoms of the SARS virus and to stay away from class until a 12 day incubation period has passed.
The teachers from Maynooth Post-Primary school, Co Kildare, returned on Good Friday and were due back at work next Monday. The school's acting principle, Mr Senan Griffin, and the Kildare VEC chief executive, Mr Sean Ashe, requested them not to return until next Wednesday to allow an extra two day clearance period on top of the 10 days recommended by the WHO.
At this stage the school, which has 748 students, does not intend to inform parents about the teachers' condition because no suspect symptoms have been reported.
Mr Ashe said the Department of Health insisted there was no cause for alarm because the people would have displayed symptoms by now if they had the virus. "But I am being extra cautious because of the current environment," said Mr Ashe.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said it was only alerted to the situation yesterday but indicated that, at this stage, there was no plan to screen any of the five female or two male teachers.
He explained public health doctors have not been consulted about the teachers' return to work next Wednesday because there are no reports of SARS-like symptoms from any of the group. However, it is understood the Minister is aware of the case.
Mr Griffin said one parent had expressed concern over the teachers' potential exposure to SARS. He stressed that the teachers had sought WHO advice before leaving for Beijing and that they had stayed in top-class accommodation and used private transport throughout the trip.