Sickness bug shuts primary school

Woodlands Primary in Harehills, Leeds, was closed on Thursday and yesterday but is due to re-open on Monday.

On Wednesday 88 pupils did not turn up at school and a further eight were sent home. Seventeen staff, including headteacher Chris Walton, were also off with the bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

The 460-pupil school has brought in a private contractor to carry out a deep clean of the premises.

Dr Martin Schweiger, consultant in communicable disease control at West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, said: "We're aware that a number of pupils and staff at Woodlands Primary School are currently suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms.

"Enhanced infection control measures have been put in place at the school, which closed on Thursday to allow for a thorough deep clean to be carried out, as advised by health professionals.

"Many forms of gastroenteritis illness are highly infectious and spread easily from one person to another, particularly in semi-closed environments like schools, nursing homes and hospitals. Although it can be very unpleasant, it's generally short-lived and most people make a full recovery within one to two days, without treatment.

"The most important advice is that anyone with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea should stay away from school or work until 48 hours after symptoms have ceased, in order to prevent further spread of the illness.

"Any visits to hospitals, care or nursing homes or schools, should also be delayed until fully recovered and individuals with symptoms should not visit people who are especially vulnerable to infection, such as elderly relatives."