Series of schools hit by flu bug

The first reported cases were at Caereinion High School

A flu strain which mainly affects children is being blamed for infecting hundreds of pupils in Powys.

The National Public Health Service for Wales made the discovery after carrying out tests on samples collected at Caereinion High School, near Welshpool.

The first cases of influenza type B were reported there two weeks ago when 200 pupils were initially struck down.

More than 12 schools in Powys have now been affected by the bug, although some are hit more badly than others.

Powys Council said it took up to two days to recover from the illness which had an incubation period of five days.

Symptoms include gastric upsets, high temperatures and headaches.

A council spokesman said: "More than a dozen schools are affected by the illness throughout Powys, but it's difficult to gauge how many pupils are ill at one time because they seem to be off schools in waves.

"For instance, one school may have eight pupils off one day and when they return another 12 may report in sick.

"Some schools are more seriously affected than others and it may be that some with just a few pupils off are not reporting problems."

There is no direct evidence that a similar outbreak at schools in Shropshire is linked to the sickness in Powys.

At its height, influenza type B struck down 200 at Caereinion High School in Llanfair Caereinion, which has 563 pupils.

It quickly spread to the neighbouring primary school and made 30 children unwell. Then it affected a further 60 at the Welsh-medium primary, Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd, in Newtown, 15 miles away.

Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd acts as a feeder school for Caereinion High School.

Leaflets were sent home to advise parents with children at all three schools about the illness. Advice included keeping children at home 48 hours after symptoms had cleared up.

Children affected at all three schools are starting to return to classes.