SWINE flu has been confirmed at a secondary school in Chard.

Parents at Holyrood Community School have received a letter confirming one student has been diagnosed with the virus.

The letter, signed by head teacher Maurice Hicks, said the year nine student is undergoing treatment and thought to be recovering well.

The school will remain open.

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, headache and chills. Some people have also reported vomiting and diarrhoea.

Any children with flu-like symptoms are advised to stay away from school until they are completely well.

Somerset health bosses maintain that all confirmed cases in the county have been isolated incidents and the people affected have made a full recovery.

Dr Caroline Gamlin, the Director of Public Health for Somerset, said: “If anyone suspects they might have swine flu they are advised to stay at home and telephone their family doctor for advice.

“We ask that people do not go straight to their GP surgery or hospital accident and emergency department as this could spread the virus to many more people if they did have swine flu.”

For more information and advice on swine flu follow the link below.