Academy shut after swine flu case

Principal Ian Johnson said he would rather over-react than get it wrong

A school in Kent has been closed after a teacher contracted swine flu following a visit from students at a university where the virus was present.

The Marlowe Academy in Ramsgate was closed on Friday after the teacher, who began feeling unwell at the weekend, tested positive for swine flu.

Two pupils, who were also unwell, are still awaiting the results of tests.

The number of swine flu cases in Kent has now reached 42, including 10 students at the University of Kent.

Marlowe Academy principal Ian Johnson said a group of students visited the school on 16 June to talk about university life.

"A group of sixth formers and staff met those young people, so that is the likely link with the virus for us," he said.

The teacher and pupils who were unwell have been off sick all week.

Mild disease

Mr Johnson said he decided on Thursday to close the school the following day while he sought medical advice.

"I will be writing to parents later today and either we will be open for business as normal on Monday, which I hope we will be able to do, or we will have taken the decision to close for the whole of next week," he said.

Dr Mathi Chandrakumar, director of the Kent Health Protection Unit, said a school was normally closed only when there were large numbers of swine flu cases.

"By closing a school you stop the transmission but it is a safety issue, and the head teacher made the decision," he said.

"So far this is only a mild disease - it is not as severe as even seasonal flu," he said.

"This is not a severe disease and so far it hasn't caused any serious illness in anybody.

"There has been one death in Scotland, but that person had another medical condition."