NUS camp cut short after two get H1N1

MORE student activities have been affected by the spread of the H1N1 virus.

Yesterday, it came to light that a National University of Singapore (NUS) orientation camp for new students had to be cut short after two students tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

The camp, attended by 200 participants from the School of Design and Environment, began on Monday and was due to end yesterday, but most students were sent home on Wednesday night, after being confined to a hostel for most of the day.

Others who ran a fever or showed flu-like symptoms were taken for tests.

So far, seven students from NUS, including four on foreign exchange, have come down with the flu.

Two have since recovered.

Meanwhile, more students from Republic Polytechnic were ordered to stay away yesterday.

On Wednesday, the poly had ordered some 4,500 students - its entire first-year cohort - and 16 teachers to stay away.

Yesterday afternoon, about 100 second-year hotel and hospitality management course students and 19 teachers were asked to stay away from school.

The poly said that as of yesterday, 18 students have tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

Elsewhere, more cases - both confirmed and suspected - continue to emerge.

At Ngee Ann Polytechnic, one student has been hospitalised with the flu.

He had gone to the Butter Factory last Wednesday and was admitted on Tuesday.

Ngee Ann Poly said close contacts have been advised to stay at home and monitor their health.

The poly is currently on a two- week break, and classes will resume on Monday, as scheduled.

A Temasek Polytechnic student was also diagnosed with H1N1 during the school holidays. He is currently on medical leave.

Institutions of higher learning The Straits Times spoke to said contingency plans have been put in place in case a student or staff member falls ill with the flu.

Nanyang Polytechnic, for example, will conduct classes via the Internet when school reopens next week, although it has no confirmed cases.

Its spokesman said this exercise, which will last a week - is to test the polytechnic's ability to function if the flu situation worsens.

At Republic Poly, which has seen the widest disruption to classes so far among all schools, several students expressed worry about their health.

Said one second-year student in the aerospace course: 'It doesn't make sense to ask only the year- ones to stay away.

'The infected person would have have walked around the polytechnic, and we should just close down for a week and sterilise the surroundings.'

The students said they preferred to learn via the school's e-portal, which they termed 'part of everyday life'.

One student, meanwhile said he had trouble getting to school yesterday.

The 19-year-old second-year on the hospitality course, who did not want to be named, said: 'This morning, I was rejected by two cabs.

'Both flatly refused to take me once I told them I want to go to RP.

'The third cab dropped me off at the traffic light and refused to go into the school! I can't believe it!'