Flu warning after schools return

Children are being urged to wash their hands reguarly

Schools have been told to adopt basic hygiene measures to help curb the spread of swine flu.

Children have been dubbed "super-spreaders" because they are more likely to pass the virus on.

And with a surge of cases expected in the coming months, the government used the start of a new school year to urge pupils to wash their hands regularly.

But ministers once again ruled out closing schools, saying it would not slow down the spread of the infection.

Many schools have responded by placing anti-bacterial gels around premises and putting up posters advising about the best way to wash hands.

Experts recommend scrubbing your hands for 15 to 30 seconds, making sure you get soap between your fingers and under your fingernails.

The number of swine flu cases has fallen dramatically since the schools closed in England at the end of July.

When they broke up for the summer holidays, there were 100,000 new cases being reported a week.

In comparison, the most recent figures estimate that just 4,500 new infections were seen.

We have had a sizeable first peak, but we are expecting a bigger second peak during the normal flu season which is just about to start Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer

Sir Liam Donaldson, England's chief medical officer, said simple hygiene measures in schools could go a long way to combating the next wave of infections.

"We saw with the first peak that we had during June and July very high rates among children, particularly young children.

"All the research evidence shows that if children are educated to cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze and then wash their hands, it helps a great deal to slow the spread of infection.

"We have had a sizeable first peak, but we are expecting a bigger second peak during the normal flu season which is just about to start."

Schools secretary Ed Balls agreed.

"It is important that in schools children are washing their hands regularly and if they sneeze they are covering their mouths.

"Basic hygiene is a way of stopping the spread of disease over the coming weeks and months."

But he added: "The best advice is to keep schools open. If your child is showing symptoms of swine flu keep them at home and either ring your GP or go on to the special helpline or website.

"If the medical advice changes at any point, we will say so immediately to teachers and parents. At all times it will be the safety of children that comes first."