Paris: Schools across Europe are opening amidst concerns over the spread of swine flu. The possible return of the disease this autumn is a cause for concern.
As children return to school after vacations, parents say they are going to keep a cautious watch.
"I've told my child to avoid hugs and kisses at school. No shaking of hands for a while. Nodding from a distance should do. And she understands," s parent said.
"I've asked my children to wash their hands a lot and cover their mouths when they cough," another added.
Any school in France that reports three consecutive cases of swine flu within a week, will be shut down for at least a week.
France has spent more than one and a half billion euros to gear up for the swine flu so far. Vaccination doses have been stocked ahead of regulatory approvals and a contingency plan is in place.
But some experts believe that if the second wave of pandemic does return, it will be hard to contain despite all these measures. And the simultaneous arrival of the seasonal flu is likely to add some to the confusion and panic.