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| School swine flu hits 50 people | School swine flu hits 50 people |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Fifty children and adults connected with a Birmingham primary school are being treated for swine flu. | |
| Forty-four new cases of the disease, linked to Welford School in Handsworth, have been confirmed by the Health Protection Agency. | Forty-four new cases of the disease, linked to Welford School in Handsworth, have been confirmed by the Health Protection Agency. |
| The agency said that of the total, 45 were children and five were adults, including at least one teacher. The number of cases is expected to rise. | The agency said that of the total, 45 were children and five were adults, including at least one teacher. The number of cases is expected to rise. |
| It is the single largest outbreak of the virus in the UK. | It is the single largest outbreak of the virus in the UK. |
| The total number of cases in the West Midlands region is now 57 with 184 confirmed cases in the UK. | |
| You wonder how it got to the school - I really am nervous Donna Pendley, parent | You wonder how it got to the school - I really am nervous Donna Pendley, parent |
| The 420-pupil school is closed for the half-term holiday. It closed on Thursday, a day earlier than scheduled, after a higher than normal number of illnesses was noted. | The 420-pupil school is closed for the half-term holiday. It closed on Thursday, a day earlier than scheduled, after a higher than normal number of illnesses was noted. |
| A statement issued by the school at the time said the school would have a "deep-clean" during the holiday. | A statement issued by the school at the time said the school would have a "deep-clean" during the holiday. |
| The school was informed on Thursday evening that one of those taken ill was a confirmed case of swine flu. | The school was informed on Thursday evening that one of those taken ill was a confirmed case of swine flu. |
| All parents and staff were contacted and asked to collect anti-viral drugs. | All parents and staff were contacted and asked to collect anti-viral drugs. |
| Tests outstanding | |
| The HPA said all the confirmed cased were being treated at home with anti-virals and were responding well to treatment. | |
| It added there were a number of laboratory tests outstanding and the number of confirmed cases at the school were expected to rise. | |
| Donna Pendley's nine-year-old son attends Welford School | |
| HPA regional director Sue Ibbotson said: "While the illness can be unpleasant for those suffering none of the cases have been hospitalised. | |
| "Viruses spread easily in schools and the HPA is working hard with the school and parents to limit its further spread." | |
| She advised that unless people have flu-like symptoms, or are being tested for swine flu, there was no need to stop their normal activities. | |
| Anyone displaying flu-like symptoms should phone rather than visit their surgery. | |
| Donna Pendley, whose nine-year-old son Kenyjah attends the school, said Tamiflu had been given to him, but not to her or her two-year-old daughter. | |
| She said: "We got the leaflet about swine flu some time ago, but when it appears in your area it makes you nervous. | She said: "We got the leaflet about swine flu some time ago, but when it appears in your area it makes you nervous. |
| "You wonder how it got to the school, how did it get to Birmingham and Handsworth? | "You wonder how it got to the school, how did it get to Birmingham and Handsworth? |
| "I am nervous, I really am nervous." | "I am nervous, I really am nervous." |