Fifth school shuts over swine flu

May 5 2009

Five UK schools are to remain closed as nine more cases of swine flu were confirmed, bringing the total number to 27.

The Dolphin School in Battersea, south London, said it was closing for a few days after two of its pupils fell ill with the virus.

The pupils are siblings and are close contacts of a previously confirmed case, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said.

But it said that the school closure was not necessary as other pupils did not display any symptoms.

A telephone answering message at the independent primary school informed parents that the decision had been taken as a precautionary measure by the board of governors.

Other recent cases include five Year 7 pupils at Alleyn's School, in Dulwich, south-east London, who were off sick on Friday. A pupil who visited the US during the Easter holidays had already been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.

The school, which will remain shut until next Monday, announced Tamiflu anti-viral medication would be supplied to all 1,200 pupils as well as staff and parents.

In addition to the seven school children, two adults - who recently returned from Mexico - from London and the West Midlands were also diagnosed with swine flu on Monday.

A Department of Health spokesman said seven of the cases confirmed on Monday appeared to have been acquired from person-to-person contact.

The HPA said more than 300 suspected swine flu cases are currently being tested.