Dothill Primary School

A sports centre in Shrewsbury remained closed today after a member of staff was diagnosed with swine flu.

The Mary Webb Sports Centre at Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury, was closed although the neighbouring Mary Webb School remained open.

The closure came as parents of pupils at a Telford school demanded to know why they were not told a pupil there had the virus.

The Dothill Primary School pupil is recovering at home after being diagnosed with the illness.

Keiron Larkin, NHS Telford & Wrekin spokesman, said nine cases of swine flu had now been diagnosed across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin – eight of them being in the Telford borough.

Councillor Barry Tillotson, Wellington mayor, and his wife Jane, who were at the school yesterday afternoon to collect their grandchildren, Amelia, aged six, and five-year-old Grace, said they had
been unaware of the case at Dothill.

Mrs Tillotson said: “I’d like to know what is going to be done?

“If one child has it, are they going to take precautions, screen the children or are they going to close down some classrooms for a while?

“We don’t want to create hysteria, but how long will it be before another child is infected,” she added.

Rachael Wake, whose eight-year-old son Callum attends the school, which is still open as normal today, said parents should have been told.

“I’m not angry, but will have a word with the school to see what the situation is,” she said.

Barry Morris, Miss Wake’s cousin, whose five-year-old son Tai attends Wrekin View Primary School, said: “It is a bit irresponsible not informing people about the case.”

Louise Evans, whose five-year-old brother Henry attends the school, said: “We weren’t told and it would have made a difference if we had been.”

Miss Evans and her fiancee, Henry Morgan, both work at the Wacky Warehouse, Wellington Retail Park, and said they would be telling their employers.

Telford & Wrekin Council said it was following Health Protection Agency advice.

Russell Griffin, Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman, said: “The council has followed advice from the HPA that schools should remain open when dealing with isolated cases.

“This advice has been closely adhered to and the case at Dothill Primary has been very minor and we aren’t aware any other child in the school has been showing symptoms.”

By Simon Hardy