Gurgaon, Feb 3 (IANS): The education department of Haryana has made it mandatory for all schools to grant a week's leave for students suffering from cough and cold, an official said Tuesday.

The time period would also be utilised to provide information regarding Swine Flu symptoms.

In order to combat the flu effectively, the health and education departments decided to jointly raise awareness about the deadly H1N1 virus.

"Any student feeling uneasy or suffering from cough and cold will be provided a seven-day leave immediately to recover from the infection," district education officer Manoj Kaushik told IANS.

"The students' attendance will not be affected. They could also prepare for their examinations while they receive treatment," she added.

She said that college students should also be provided with such facilities.

The science teachers at schools will brief students about the symptoms of H1N1 virus during morning assemblies.

At least eight swine flu deaths have been reported from the state this year, and of them, three were from Gurgaon.

"The decision to send an uneasy child on leave may be a precautionary measure but it can also create panic in the society regarding H1N1 virus," said a social activist.

The health department has been claiming, though, that the situation in the state was completely under control.