Parents are withdrawing their children from school in an effort to prevent a surge of so-called “superflu” from spoiling Christmas.
Children have been among the worst affected by what has been described as a “tidal wave” of a highly infectious mutant strain of flu sweeping across Britain. In response, some schools have temporarily closed, while others have cancelled Christmas nativities, assemblies and festive events to curb transmission.
During the final week of term before the Christmas holidays, a growing number of parents have chosen to keep their children at home, despite the absences being classed as unauthorised.
South Bank Primary School in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, announced last week that it would not be safe for its Christmas lunch, performances or craft days to go ahead due to the outbreak. Parents subsequently took to social media to say they would be keeping their children off school for the remainder of term, while others called for the school to close altogether.
One mother wrote: “Would we get fined if we kept the kids off? I’d rather the kids not be poorly over Christmas and end up in hospital like I know some have.”
Another said: “Shall we break up early then — saves us mums having to deal with poorly kids over Christmas?”
A third added: “I won’t be sending my little boy back now until after Christmas. I’ve never seen him this poorly. I’m not risking him being ill for his birthday and Christmas, and it’s not worth risking my daughter’s health either.”
Other parents urged the school to close to prevent it “ruining more families’ Christmases”.
National figures show at least 314 outbreaks of respiratory infections, including flu, have been recorded in schools across England so far this winter. Despite warnings from health officials in October that Britain could face its worst flu season on record, more than four million children — over half of those aged between two and 17 — remain unvaccinated.