TWO of Dorset's biggest schools have been hit by the swine flu scare.

Letters have gone out to pupils at Wey Valley School and Sports College in Weymouth and The Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester advising parents of possible cases of swine flu.

The swine flu scare comes after parents of pupils at Damers First School in Dorchester received warning letters after a pupil was diagnosed with the virus.

At Wey Valley a hand-written note was handed in by a parent yesterday advising that her child had flu like symptoms.

Later that day all pupils were sent home with a letter advising them to stay at home if any flu-like symptoms occur.

Wey Valley headteacher Philip Thomas said: "After receiving the letter we followed the Dorset County Council guidelines and sent out precautionary letters to parents indicating that someone had come out with flu-like symptoms.

"It advises people to stay away rather than come to school where there are lots of people."

Mr Thomas said that they have followed the same guidelines as other schools who have also issued the letter this week.

He added: "Everyone else should carry on as normal. School does not close until July 17."

A letter to parents posted on the Thomas Hardye School website states that 'a number of students in the school have been dealt with as treated cases of swine flu'.

This follows the first school outbreak reported at Damer's First School in Dorchester yesterday.

Headteacher Phil Minns confirmed that the pupil who had contracted the flu was being treated and is expected to make a full recovery.

The highly contagious respiratory illness is caused by the type A flu (H1N1) virus and the age group most affected is 10 to 19-year-olds.

The current advice from the Dorset and Somerset Health Protection Unit (HPA) is that the vast majority of swine flu cases in the UK have been mild and self limiting and the infection is now widespread in many parts of the UK.

Schools are no longer being shut down because the HPA is advising that closing a school closing down would not necessarily prevent infection because people could still be exposed to the virus outside of the school setting.

The HPA are no longer testing and confirming cases of swine flu because the government policy has changed from containment to treatment.

Flu victims are now treated with Tamiflu and told to stay indoors.

Parents are being advised to check their child for any signs of flu like symptoms such as a high fever, aches or pains and a cough, a cold or runny nose.

Anyone showing these symptoms should stay at home and contact your GP, or NHS direct on 0845 4647 or the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1513 513.

More information can be found at www.hpa.org.uk n Has your child got swine flu? If so contact news reporter Miriam Phillips on 01305 830985 or miriam.phillips@dorsetecho.|co.uk