A flu outbreak affects five primary schools in Swindon

A primary school in Swindon has closed and another four have been affected by a flu outbreak in the town.

Grange Junior School is closed and is due to reopen on Friday. It said out of a school roll of 323 children, 160 were off with the bug.

High levels of absence were also reported at Colebrook Junior and Infant Schools, Sevenfields Primary and Catherine Wayte School.

The Health Protection Agency confirmed an outbreak of influenza type B.

'Spread rapidly'

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it had been working with NHS Swindon, Swindon Borough Council and the five schools to limit the spread of the virus.

Dr Mark Evans, from the HPA, said: "Influenza can spread rapidly in places like schools, where there is regular contact between lots of youngsters.

"Some of the schools affected by the flu have been found to have the less common B strain of the virus, which is usually the milder form, fortunately."

The HPA has sent letters to all parents with children at the schools with advice on how to deal with the illness.

Symptoms of influenza B include fever, sore throat, runny nose and muscle pain.