China trip student has swine flu

Chinese health officials monitor passengers arriving in the country

A teenager from Cornwall who is on a school trip in China has contracted swine flu.

The pupil is one of 16 students from Penair School in Truro who are in Beijing together with two members of staff.

The Year 10 student, who is showing mild symptoms, is being treated with anti-viral drugs in hospital and is said to be responding well.

Nine British pupils have now been diagnosed with swine flu in Beijing.

The other students and staff members on the trip from Cornwall are in quarantine in a hotel in Beijing along with more than 100 other pupils and teachers who were also taking part in the two-week cultural exchange visit to China.

'Coping well'

They are expected to remain in quarantine for a week.

All the students have a phone in their rooms so that they can remain in close contact with their families while they are in the hotel.

We are in close contact with the parents of all the students and will be keeping them up to date with all developments Barbara Vann, Penair School head teacher

Barbara Vann, head teacher of Penair School, has spoken to staff who are with the students and said that all the pupils, including the one in hospital, were coping well.

She said: "We have been liaising with the British Vice Consul in Beijing and with the representatives of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust to ensure that our students are receiving the support they need.

"We are in close contact with the parents of all the students and will be keeping them up to date with all developments."