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French school closed after emergence of flu cases

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-11 11:04

PARIS: A primary school in east France was closed on Tuesday after 15 cases of flu were identified in the campus, the regional prefect said in a statement.

"Considering the report of 15 flu cases in the school in Val-Thorens, among which, one has been confirmed (as A(H1N1) flu), the prefect decided to close the school as active prevention," local media quoted the statement as saying.

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Val-Thorens, a notable ski resort in Europe, was located in France's eastern prefecture of Savoie, in the French Alps.

The school will not open until November 16, the prefect said.

As winter comes, the activity of A(H1N1) virus has augmented for the last three weeks in France. Paris health authorities announced on Monday three more deaths from A(H1N1) flu over the past three days.

French Education Minister Luc Chatel said on Sunday that a freewill vaccination exclusive for 12 million children in kindergartens and primary and secondary schools would be offered from November 25, while nationwide vaccination is scheduled to start as early as on November 12.