» A Seongsin elementary school teacher explains to students how they can protect themselves from influenza, Aug 24.

Administrative officials of schools in South Korea are becoming increasingly alarmed over the increase in New Influenza infections. As summer break comes to a close, over 300 cases of influenza A (H1N1 or New Influenza) virus have been confirmed.

In the case of Wolchon Elementary School, 20 students of a total of 1374 students are unable to attend classes because they have not fulfilled the seven-day quarantine required after returning from a foreign country. Lee Jin-kyung, a Wolchon school teacher said, “We have informed every student of the danger of the New Influenza, which has led to the home study of 5 students.” He added, “We are confirming on a daily basis whether students show signs of fever and provide every class with hand-antiseptic agents.”

Park Rae-june, the Vice Principal of Wolchon Elementary School said, “While we urge students who have returned from foreign countries to restrain themselves from attending class, we are placing our focus on preventative measures and encouraging hand washing because members in local communities are already infected with the flu.”

Eleven students did not attend class at Sungshin Elementary School in Seoul, which began school on Monday. While Kim Tae-yun was waiting for her child in front of the school’s gate, she said, “My kid visited the U.S. for a month this summer, and today was the first day of school.” Kim added, “I am worried about the New Influenza epidemic.”

Nearby, at Gaeun Middle School, 5 teachers who returned from visiting foreign countries were not allowed to come to school, and as a result, the students were asked to engage in self-directed study.

In Geoje city, where the first case of the influenza A (H1N1 or New Influenza) virus have been confirmed, 16 middle schools out of a total of 17 middle schools put off their opening to September 1. Three middle and high schools in Daegu city which had any reported cases also delayed their opening.

The Education Ministry and other educational organizations preparing safeguards against new influenza are faced with the difficulty of being unable to determine with certainty who has traveled abroad.

An official of the Seoul Metropolitan Education Office said, “Many parents are not informing the schools of their children’s visits abroad because they are concerned that the school will order the children not to attend the school for a week.”

The Education Ministry has announced 38 schools across the country are imposing quarantines on students suspected for possible infection.

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