Swine flu hits Adelaide

"Teachers will minimise disruptions by emailing work to students."

Two schools have closed because children from the same family have contracted swine flu and experts need to investigate further. All sensible precautions. It is important to keep level headed and to manage it and thank heavens for technology. It's great the teachers have gone online to keep the classes and work going. It means we can manage the interruptions and inconvenience with the minimum of fuss. Panicking and going off half cocked will not help. It also means we might have the chance to trail some online delivery of materials because at some stage, with the rate of absenteeism being reported we need to provide an alternative to those students who think they don't need to go to school...and then the parents will be responsible for their education while the schools carry on without all that added extra of tracking and documenting those who aren't interested. It is surprising we have got the swine flu here so fast, but I guess that's what happens in a world which travels a lot. We need constant reminders of symptoms and the best course of action because people here are conscious of not fussing over something when others need our already strained services. So some sensible direction will help us to contain this virus. Creating a fearfest, on the other hand, is irresponsible.