5:41pm Tuesday 7th July 2009
By Charley Morgan
Three schools in west Wiltshire have now sent out letters to parents following a number of children falling ill with flu-like symptoms.
In the latest development Colin Kay, headteacher of Clarendon School in Trowbridge, confirmed that one student had been off school for two weeks with suspected swine flu and that four parents of children at the school also had confirmed swine flu.
He said parents had been sent letters today.
“We have done a number of things to increase hygiene such as doing extra cleaning, making tissues available, putting hand sanitisers in the dining room and kitchen and encouraging students to use them," he said.
“We have been told it is not necessary to close the school and that hygiene is the best way to avoid spreading it.
“We understand that there are a number of cases in Trowbridge so it’s likely that the number of student cases will increase.”
Earlier today one case of swine flu was confirmed in a pupil at George Ward School in Melksham while at the Mead Primary School in Hilperton there is a suspected case, which involves a Reception class pupil, who is being kept in isolation at home after her mother contacted her doctor.
The Mead says it is in close contact with NHS Wiltshire, the Health Protection Agency and Wiltshire Council regarding the matter and had been advised that there is no need to close the school.
At George Ward, a letter from headteacher Stephen Clark and Maggie Rae, director of Public Health for NHS Wiltshire, said: "Parents should feel assured that we are liaising closely with the local NHS, Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Local Authority regarding this matter.
"Having taken advice, we have decided to keep the school open as normal.
"In the vast majority of cases, swine flu is a mild illness and those affected make a full and quick recovery.
"Children and adults who do not have flu like symptoms should continue their daily routines as normal."
A spokesman for NHS Wiltshire said anyone with flu-like symptoms, such as a temperature, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, runny noses or vomiting/diarrhoea, should phone their family doctor for advice.
She added that they should not attend the surgery to avoid spreading the infection.
For more details call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513.
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