Hong Kong to close primary schools over swine flu

Hong Kong authorities have ordered all primary schools in the city to be closed for two weeks after the first cluster of local swine flu cases was found. The move came after 12 pupils at a city secondary school were found to have contracted the A(H1N1) virus, chief executive Donald Tsang told reporters. Tsang said authorities were unable to identify the source of the infection, making it the first “cluster” of human swine flu cases in the city without a known link to those travelling overseas. All primary schools, kindergartens, child care centres and special schools would be shut for 14 days from Friday in an effort to control the spread of the virus, Tsang said. “Given the global situation, (for) Hong Kong to have its own local cases is simply inevitable,” Tsang said.“I believe the fellow citizens and the government have done all we can in postponing the arrival of the first indigenous case.”