Second swine flu case at school

A second pupil at Castle View School has contracted swine flu

A second pupil from a school in Canvey Island in Essex has contracted swine flu, it has been confirmed.

Castle View School was shut on Monday, as a precaution, while a Year 8 pupil underwent tests for the virus.

The two confirmed cases and other pupils in the year group have received the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to limit contraction of the virus.

Those associated with the pupils have also been given the anti-viral drug. The school will reopen on 18 May.

'Calm and collected'

Andrea Atherton, director of public health at the South East Essex Primary Care Trust, said: "We would like to reassure people that, although a second case has been confirmed, the risk of transmission remains small.

"Close contacts of the confirmed cases have also been given Tamiflu."

The head teacher of Castle View School, Russell Sullivan, said: "We've worked very hard with the NHS and the Health Protection Agency throughout the weekend, and hopefully we've managed to contain the situation.

"Everybody has been very, very calm and collected. It's safety first."

The school will be closed to all pupils, except for those taking GCSE examinations.

There are three other confirmed cases of swine flu in the county - an elderly woman from Basildon, a man in his 30s from North Weald and one in Clacton.