2 Kobe high schools hit hard by new flu reopen after 2-week closure

KOBE, May 30 Kyodo -
Two senior high schools in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, that were hit hard by
new-flu infections reopened Saturday after closing for about two weeks to
prevent the spread of the disease.
Kobe High School and Hyogo High School scheduled a special school day Saturday
to confirm the health conditions of their students. Classes will resume Monday.
The first case of the new H1N1 strain of influenza A in Japan outside airport
quarantine was detected at Kobe High School, while many students came down with
the new flu also at Hyogo High School.
Meanwhile, seven people in Osaka, Hyogo and Chiba prefectures were found
Saturday to have contracted the new flu, bringing the total number of
infections confirmed in Japan to 377 people in 11 prefectures.
Most schools in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan, the focal area of new-flu
infections in the country, resumed classes last Monday after closing for about
a week.
But Kobe High School and Hyogo High School had continued to suspend classes as
the number of new-flu infection cases totaled 17 at Kobe High School and 43 at
Hyogo High School.
A 17-year-old male student belonging to a basketball team said, ''I felt
frustrated because I couldn't practice but now club activities can resume.''
''I studied at home during the recess. I want to get back to my normal life,''
a 17-year-old female student said.
With Saturday's steps, all public high schools in Hyogo Prefecture have
reopened. Some private schools continue to suspend classes.
The prefectural education board said no new H1N1 cases have been found at Kobe
High School and Hyogo High School since May 21. All students infected with the
new flu at the two schools have recovered, it said.
Some experts said the new flu may have spread at the two schools through sports
events held between them on May 8.
==Kyodo