School teachers to keep a check on swine flu symptoms in students: Azad

New Delhi, Aug 17 (ANI): Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Monday said the Government is going to issue guidelines for schools asking them to dispense with the routine of holding daily assembly meeting in morning to prevent spread of swine flu.

"Morning assembly in schools, where students come in close contact could become a source for spread of the virus," Azad said.

The guidelines would be issued in a couple of days, which would also make it mandatory for school teachers to check each student for symptoms of the deadly H1N1 virus, Azad added.

"It is also being made mandatory for each teacher to go from seat to seat in the class to check for symptoms of flu, identify the student and immediately send him or her back with the advice that they should stay at home for a week," Azad added.

Azad informed that a new vaccine is expected to be developed in five to seven months, for which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already provided the seed from Atlanta-based Centre for Disease Control.

He also said that additional 24 thermal scanners would be put into operation at international airports across the country.

Meanwhile, three more persons died of the deadly H1N1 virus on Monday, taking country's swine flu death toll to 28. (ANI)