Another pupil at the special needs school in Derry which recorded one of Northern Ireland’s first swine flu deaths is seriously ill, the principal said today.
The 15-year-old is in hospital after cerebral palsy sufferer Orla O’Kane (14), died of the flu, Foyle View Special School principal Michael Dobbins added.
Health chiefs will attend an emergency meeting later after it emerged that Orla’s family was only told she had the virus on Friday, a week after her funeral.
Mr Dobbins said another three pupils had made a good recovery.
“I think it is very hard for the parents who are having to deal with such a tragic loss. Every year we have parents with children who have underlying medical conditions, they deal with the worry of seasonal flus every autumn,” he said.
He added they had considered closing the school but taking the advice of the public health authorities had decided to remain open.
He paid tribute to the girl. “Orla was a great wee girl, such a bright person, she just brightened the lives of everyone who knew her,” he added. “She was deeply loved by her family, they doted on her. It is such a tragic loss.”
Northern Ireland Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has asked the chief medical officer to convene the meeting following the death of Orla a week ago.
The Western Trust has said it will prevent similar delays in future.
It said it “regretted” distress caused to the O’Kane family by the delay.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said he will convene a meeting bringing together representatives from the trust, the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency.
The teenager’s death was the fifth related to swine flu in Northern Ireland.
PA