Pupils in Hong Kong, Nigeria and UAE are answering questions about how they have been affected by the outbreak, and their experience of illness at school.

Find out how your school can get involved.
Find out more about swine flu from the BBC News Q&A.

Class 2 Faith, Stewards Pooi Kei College, Shatin, Hong Kong

What happened the last time you took time off school because you were unwell?

Chloe, 13: I am not often sick. The outbreak of the swine flu makes me remember the last time I was sick was a month ago when I got a fever. My head was painful as if it was burning. I really didn't want to move at all.

Elliot, 14: I had a flu in February 2008 because two students at school were coughing and didn't wear masks. I had fever and coughing. I stayed at home for four days. On the second day of my absence, over fifteen students were absent in my class. One day, only seven people in my class went back to school.

Harry, 13: The last time I was absent from school because of sickness was in March. I got a fever so I did my homework at home.

How have you been affected by the swine flu outbreak?

Katie, 13:  On the first day we went back to school after the first swine flu case in Hong Kong, we had our temperatures checked by teachers one by one, and went to wash our hands one by one.

Chloe, 13:  The outbreak of H1N1 is troublesome to me. I have to wash my hands every time before eating and after coming back from school. I touch nothing on the streets.  We bring our alcohol hand rub to clean our hands from time to time. The government also has a campaign to clean Hong Kong.

Matthew, 13:  My mother ordered us to wash our hands after school and have a temperature checking before going out.

Elliot, 14:  Many people in Hong Kong are wearing masks.  I pay more attention to hygiene, always washing my hands and eating more healthy food.

Is it right to cut off a group of people to protect the others?

Harry, 13: Hong Kong government has cut off a group of people in a hotel for 7 days because of one affected tourist.  I don't think it is right to cut a group of people off to protect the others because it leaves the people in the group with no choice.

Matthew, 13:  Hong Kong is a city with a high population density. If there is a swine flu, the citizens would be affected easily and quickly.  In this case, the government should isolate the affected people to prevent an outbreak and protect all other citizens.

Katie, 13: Cutting off a group of affected people is good for many others. If the government doesn't do it, the H1N1 influenza will affect others and make more people sick.

Chloe, 13: I think we should cut off a group of people who are suffering from H1N1. Meanwhile the medical personnel can produce medicine which could cure the patients.

Wisdom Brook College, Ketu, Lagos State

When were you last off school because you were unwell? What happened?

Damilola, 11: I was off school in May 2009. This is because I was affected by Malaria. I was sent home because of it.

Odunayo, 12: It could sometime February. I had skin rashes all over my body and it was a very bad issue for me because I had my friends running away from me for the fear that I would affect them. I had to leave school for 2 weeks.

Emmanuella: I was absent from school because I had chicken pox. I was told that it’s a contagious disease that it’s easily spreadable so I was asked to go home and return when the symptoms have reduced.

Taiwo, 13: December 2007, I was having typhoid fever. Then I was a boarder. As medication seems to fail to treat me the school authority asked that I be taken home to my parents.

Michael, 13: I had to be off school in November 2007 because I was seriously sick. I had a high temperature that really got the school management worried.

Peculiar, 11: In January 2006, I was sent off from school by the school head.  At first I felt bad but then it dawned on me that I could get other pupils infected so I didn’t take it too hard.

Toluwanimi, 11: On the 8th of May 2009 I just had Malaria. I had to leave school for some couple of days because seriously I wasn’t functioning as I was supposed to.

How have you been affected by the flu outbreak?

Eniola, 11: I have never been affected by flu outbreak. I pray not to be.

Peculiar, 11: It’s not in my country so that makes me unaffected.

Is it right to cut off one group of people in order to protect the rest of the world?

Michael, 13: It’s absolutely wrong to isolate a group of people from the rest of the world for a disease that they do not know the origin. I think the best thing that the international community can do is to seek for a research as to the cure or better the preventive measure.

Odunayo, 12: With my little experience I would say that it would be unfair to cut the rest of the populace from them because I know what I went through.

Hannah, 12: In my own candid opinion I think that it is right that we cut off one infected fraction of the entire population so that it would end up saving the bulk of the entire population. My reason being that we could save the race of mankind from going into extinction.

Peculiar, 11: After my experience, it’s almost impossible to say that the affected people should not be cut off to protect the larger population.

Wesgreen International School, Sharjah, UAE

When were you last off school because you were unwell? What happened?

Trishna, 13:  I was last off school when I had chicken pox. I was not allowed to go out of the house for two weeks. I felt so horrible and alone. I felt very trapped which is how I think those who have swine flu probably feel as well.

Hiba, 14:  Last year! I remember that I fell ill with a fever which resulted in me missing two days of school. I had loads of work to catch up on and I found it very stressful.  Since the H1N1 flu virus is resulting in many schools being closed, especially in Mexico, I can imagine how the outbreak is affecting students.  Being sick is not a pleasant experience at all, especially if you know you have a lot of work to catch up on.  It almost makes you sick just by thinking of all the work that you'll have to do!

Deema, 14: Two months ago because I had bad flu with a fever. My head hurt so badly. I couldn't sleep properly. I had tissues all over the house. I barely ate that day.

Bayan, 13: To be honest, I can’t remember the last time I was off school due to an illness. I think this has to do with my mom; she only cooks things that are good for us and forces us to eat them.

Aisha, 14: I had flu three weeks ago. I think I caught it from my classmates which shows how an ordinary flu can be so contagious.

How have you been affected by the swine flu outbreak?

Nur, 14: Since the spreading of this epidemic of swine flu from Mexico, early this year, I felt terrified.

Jawaher, 14: I always carry my sanitizer around with me and, if I touch a door handle or something else in a public place, I clean my hands with it. My family and I are still planning to visit Europe for the summer holiday. Even though it is starting to spread widely, this won’t stop us from going because, if we catch it or even die from it, it is God’s will.

Ala’a, 14: It’s already in Egypt and it’s had a powerful effect. I do wonder if it will travel across the Middle East and find me. Still, I take some precautions; I’ve got hand sanitizer in my bag, for instance.

Raahyma, 14: The swine flu outbreak is rather depressing. Every time you turn the TV on, you hear the news channels reporting that schools have been closed in Mexico or that 50 more people have caught the disease. People are told not to greet each other; not to shake each other’s hands; and not to hug each other. So the only way left to greet someone is by saying hello and looking at them politely? We can’t show affection anymore? You can’t help but feel angry!

Is it right to cut off one group of people in order to protect the rest of the world?

Bayan, 13: I do not think it is right. Think of how you would feel if you were isolated from the world? It wasn’t their choice to catch swine flu, so why should they pay for it?

Amina, 14: This situation concerning swine flu, in my opinion, has been blown completely out of proportion. People die of sicknesses all over the world, every day. Millions of people died of AIDs, thousands of cancer, but then approximately 45 people die of swine flu and suddenly there is a moral panic?

Neamah, 14: It might be true that humans have brought this upon themselves (as we really are a despicably inconsiderate and careless species), but I truly feel that there is no need to inflict harm, danger and suffering upon others, even though those who have been infected are not always to blame.
This matter could be approached similarly to the Molokai leprosy breakout. Rev. Damien de Veuster is known worldwide as the 19th century priest who aided the banished leprosy patients during the epidemic in Hawaii. The swine flu victims should not be forgotten; they should instead be helped and provided with guidance from those who can give it.

Reanne, 14: In my opinion, it is right. It could save the lives of hundreds or even thousands of other people who would have contracted it otherwise.

Nur, 14: A cure for this disease must be found quickly because, as the economic recession started end of last year, this swine flu disease in Mexico (and several other countries) made their economy dwindle abruptly and fast, especially in Mexico.

How did they do that?

Join the Swine flu interactive project.

Read about the swine flu outbreak from the point of view of a school partnership between Mexico City and Cumbria, UK.

Read more about swine flu on BBC News.

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