‘More swine flu cases in Bournemouth and Poole' (From Bournemouth Echo)

‘More swine flu cases in Bournemouth and Poole'

7:10am Tuesday 30th June 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(6)

HEALTH bosses say they are starting to see a “very small number” of swine flu cases in Bournemouth and Poole.

But when pressed yesterday they would not say how many cases had been recorded in the conurbation, despite the fact that other counties across the country have been releasing figures regularly.

A spokesman for NHS Bournemouth and Poole said: “We are now starting to see a very small number of cases of swine flu in Bournemouth and Poole.

“The NHS is well-prepared to deal with the situation and has plans in place to help minimise the spread of the virus and to support anyone who does become unwell.”

The spokesman said the spread could be limited through people covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing and washing hands.

The news comes as a school was due to reopen today after a pupil contracted swine flu last week.

Verwood CE First School, which has 300 pupils, closed when a year four boy was confirmed as having the virus.

There were further concerns yesterday when it emerged that a teaching assistant had become ill, but a spokesman for Dorset County Council said she was tested for swine flu and given the all clear and the school would reopen as planned.

There was nobody at the school yesterday, but a message on its website said: “We are very thankful to all parents for their support over the week.”

It said everyone was keen to get back into school and make the final few weeks of term “as enjoyable for the children as possible”.

The child who was found to have the virus last week has fully recovered. Classmates were given medication as a precaution.

However, a spokesman for NHS Dorset, which covers the rest of the county, said no further cases of swine flu had been confirmed since the pupil at Verwood First School was diagnosed.