TWO more pupils from a Weymouth school caught up in the swine flu scare have reported feeling unwell.

The Wey Valley School and Sports College students phoned in yesterday after becoming ill over the weekend.

However, headteacher Phil Thomas – who sent warning letters to parents after a pupil developed flu-like symptoms last week – said: “Nothing has been confirmed to suggest this latest pair have swine flu.”

They reported flu-like symptoms, and were ‘staying at home as a precaution, in line with health guidelines,’ he explained.

It also remains unconfirmed whether the first Wey Valley pupil, who is recovering after falling ill last week, has swine flu or a regular strain of the virus.

Meanwhile, at Dorchester’s Thomas Hardye School – where a number of students came down with flu-like symptoms last week – no more pupils have reported sick.

Headteacher Dr Iain Melvin, who also sent a warning letter to parents, told the Dorset Echo he had had no new swine flu cases confirmed to date.

His letter said: “The school has taken advice from the Dorset and Somerset Health Protection Unit and NHS Dorset.

“As swine flu is now circulating in the community, closing a school down would not necessarily prevent infection as people could still be exposed to the virus outside of the school setting.

“The school will therefore stay open as usual.”

Rumours are circulating of outbreaks at other Weymouth and Portland secondary schools.

However, no swine flu cases have been reported at All Saints, Budmouth or Royal Manor.

The first school outbreak was reported at Damers First School in Dorchester, last Friday.

Damers headteacher Phil Minns said the pupil who contracted the flu was being treated and expected to make a full recovery.

Public health protection chiefs say exact figures of individual cases in Dorset will not be kept as the strategy in dealing with the outbreak has now moved from containment to treatment.

Royal Manor School head Paul Green said: “We haven’t sent any letters home, we’ve not had any students confirmed.

“We had a student, days ago, who developed some flu-like symptoms, but tests found it was not swine flu. That’s the only brush that we’ve had with it so far.”

Meanwhile, Radipole Primary head Sue Stockham moved to reassure parents after rumours of confirmed cases at her school.

She said: “Apparently a parent, with two children at our school, took part in a radio broadcast saying she had the illness.

“I am sure you are aware that rumours abound at times like this, and on Friday I had not in fact been notified of any child having swine flu – and that remains the case today (July 13).”

The current advice from the Dorset and Somerset Health Protection Unit (HPA) is that the vast majority of swine flu, the highly contagious type A flu (H1N1) cases in the UK, have been mild and self-limiting and the infection is now widespread in many parts of the UK.

Schools will no longer be shut because the HPA is advising closure will not necessarily prevent infection, as people will still be exposed to the virus outside the school setting.

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

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

Visit www.hpa.org.uk