Children have suspected swine flu

There are concerns the General Hospital could be strained

Two children have been taken to hospital in Jersey with suspected swine flu, as health officials report a sharp rise in cases in the island.

The condition of the children has been described as "stable" but they are being monitored closely.

23 new cases of the virus were confirmed in Jersey on Wednesday.

More than 4,000 children in 14 schools across the island were offered a jab on the first day of the new vaccination programme.

Dr Mark Jones, consultant paediatrician, said: "I am concerned that two island children are now in the hospital, suspected of having swine flu.

The school vaccination programme is our main line of defence against further serious illness in children as a result of catching swine flu."

Dr Ivan Muscat, consultant in communicable diseases, told BBC Jersey: "Outbreaks are likely in our schools from this week.

"We will be going into the five schools currently affected to offer Tamiflu and advice.

"We will continue to do all we can to contain the virus until children in all schools and nurseries have been vaccinated."

Jersey's health department reported that between 80% and 90% of pupils from the schools visited by staff on Wednesday were vaccinated.

Letters have been written to parents asking them to give consent for the jabs.

Dr Rosemary Geller, the island's medical officer of health, said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the uptake so far and pleased so many parents agreed to their child being vaccinated.

"There's no time to lose because the cases are surging upwards it seems."

The programme, which is unprecedented in Jersey, aims to vaccinate about 16,000 children in nurseries and schools.

Earlier this week, Dr Andrew Luksza, a respiratory medicine consultant, warned the General Hospital could be strained if the island experiences high numbers of cases.