Swine flu scare: UP schools to skip morning assembly

Lucknow Aug 16 (IANS) With the rising number of swine flu patients in the city and other parts of the state the health department on Wednesday issued a directive to schools to skip morning prayers to avoid the spread of the disease.

The advisory the state health department officials said has been issued to all schools government and private across the state.

Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Prashant Trivedi has directed Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates to ensure that the directives are being complied with.

Officials said that all "school managements have been asked as a matter of abundant caution to try and ensure that there are no large gatherings".

Swine flu has claimed 22 lives so far and the number of patients has increased suddenly and touched 695 till August 13 according to the health department s data.

--IANS
md/him/bg