This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8076680.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
School reopens after flu outbreak School reopens after flu outbreak
(40 minutes later)
A West Midlands primary school which has been connected to the UK's largest outbreak of the swine flu virus has reopened after the half-term break. Just under two thirds of pupils at a West Midlands primary school connected to a swine flu outbreak returned to school on Monday.
The number of cases connected with Welford Primary School in Handsworth, Birmingham, stands at 79. Welford Primary School in Handsworth, Birmingham, reopened after closing for half-term a day early due to a high number of absences caused by illness.
A further three cases were confirmed on Saturday and two on Sunday. The number of swine flu cases connected with the 420-pupil school stands at 79.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the school was thoroughly cleaned over the week's holiday and all confirmed cases were being treated at home. A Health Protection Agency spokeswoman said she thought the absences were due to parents being cautious.
'Well again' A further three cases linked to the school were confirmed on Saturday and two on Sunday.
The HPA's regional director for the West Midlands, Dr Sue Ibbotson, said the virus has an incubation period of up to seven days and it is 10 days since the school closed. Pupils who caught the flu virus before half-term and are now well again are not infectious to others Dr Sue Ibbotson, HPA
The (HPA) said the school had been thoroughly cleaned during the week-long holiday and all confirmed cases were being treated at home.
The spokeswoman said the HPA wanted to reassure parents that steps had been taken to slow down the spread of the illness.
Earlier, The HPA's regional director for the West Midlands, Dr Sue Ibbotson, said the virus had an incubation period of up to seven days and the school had been closed for 10 days.
"This means that pupils who caught the flu virus before half term and are now well again are not infectious to others and can return to school," she said."This means that pupils who caught the flu virus before half term and are now well again are not infectious to others and can return to school," she said.
The flu virus does not survive more than a day on hard surfaces and less on soft surfaces, she added, so the school can reopen as planned. The flu virus does not survive more than a day on hard surfaces and less on soft surfaces, she added, so the school could reopen as planned.
The school, which has 420 pupils, will be monitored and anyone with symptoms such as high temperatures, coughs and headaches is being asked to stay at home and contact a doctor. The school will be monitored and anyone with symptoms such as a high temperature, coughs and headaches is being asked to stay at home and contact a doctor by phone.
Welford Primary closed for the half term break on 21 May, a day earlier than planned, after a high number of pupil absences were noted.Welford Primary closed for the half term break on 21 May, a day earlier than planned, after a high number of pupil absences were noted.
The first swine flu case was confirmed later that day. The first swine flu case was confirmed later that day with the number of people affected across the UK now standing at 246.
The number of people affected across the UK has risen to 246, with Eton College another school affected.