An outbreak of swine flu has occurred among pupils at a Streatham School.
Seven year 6 pupils and one teacher from Immanuel and St Andrew Church of England school tested positively for the H1N1v influenza virus on Tuesday - after they returned home feeling ill from a school adventure trip in Surrey.
The pupils were among a group of 15 to 20 10- and 11-year-olds from the school in Buckleigh Road who had spent the weekend at a PGL camp in Marchants Hill, Surrey.
The school is to stay open despite the outbreak, on advice from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and NHS Lambeth, because the children fell ill while they were away.
They are now receiving antiviral treatment and will stay at home until they have fully recovered.
The children began to feel ill late on Sunday night, and a doctor was called to take swabs.
The coach company brought all the children on the trip home earlier than expected on Monday.
Parents of children were told this was because the children were feeling unwell.
A letter was sent to all parents the school on Monday stating swabs had been taken from pupils suspected of having swine flu.
A further letter was couriered to all parents on today, confirming the cases and offering advice.
Lambeth’s director of public health, Dr Ruth Wallis, said NHS Lambeth, the HPA and Lambeth Council were working together to manage the situation in line with well established practice.
The other people on the trip, as well as close contacts of those with the virus, were being offered antiviral treatment as a preventative measure, she added.
She said: “The school has not been advised to close as none of the pupils attended while symptomatic.”
Parents worried their child may have caught the virus should call their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
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