HEALTH Minister Michael McGimpsey has denied there was a failure to inform Foyle View Special School of swine flu incidents involving its pupils last month.
Two young pupils at the school, Orla O'Kane, aged 14, and Ashleigh Lynch, aged 15, died at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry within days of one another after having contracted swine flu.
The Minister has already apologised to the family of Orla O'
Kane for a delay in telling them that she had swine flu.
However, when asked if there had been a failure to notify Foyle View of swine flu incidents, Mr McGimpsey said this was not the case.
"Parents of children in special schools have been advised to tell the school if their child has been diagnosed with swine flu.
"The Department of Education and the Public Health Agency have issued guidance on what to do if children develop swine flu," stated the Minister.
"There was no failure to notify Foyle View Special School. The parents of a child from Foyle View Special School who was recently admitted to Altnagelvin with swine flu informed the school of the diagnosis promptly," he added.
The Northern Ireland health boss said Foyle View subsequently contacted the Public Health Agency (PHA) early on Monday, October 12, the day after Orla died, and within three hours appropriate public health action had been taken.
"All pupils received letters that day to take to their GPs to receive antiviral prophylaxis. In addition, all pupils were given information about the signs and symptoms of swine flu and parents advised to contact their GP and keep their child off school if symptomatic," he said.
The Minister referred to his apology to Mr and Mrs O'Kane for the delay in informing them that she had confirmed swine flu.
But he added: "As the appropriate public health actions had already been taken in Foyle View, earlier notification to the school of this case would not have changed the management."
The Minister confirmed that the Chief Medical Officer has been asked to investigate what happened and to learn lessons for the future. "A number of urgent actions have already been taken including the issuing of further guidance to health care professionals on the follow-up and communication of positive swine flu results to patients," he stated.
