A case of swine flu has been confirmed in the east Kent area.

The Eastern and Coastal NHS trust which covers Swale as well as Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet, has confirmed a child is being treated with anti-viral drugs for swine flu and is at home. They say it is linked to an ongoing investigation into an outbreak in a boarding school in Berkshire.

A spokesman said: "NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent is working closely with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to ensure that any close contacts of this case are offered anti-virals as a precautionary measure.

"All parents of students at this school were written to by the HPA on May 30, offering anti-viral medicines as a precautionary measure to help limit the spread of the virus among pupils and staff."

Advice for individuals who have flu-like symptoms and have recently returned from swine-flu affected countries, or been with someone who has, is to:

• BLOB: Stay at home to limit contact with others and contact your GP by phone or NHS Direct on 0845 4647
• BLOB: Donot go into your GP surgery, or to a hospital, as you may spreadgerms to others.

Unless you have flu-like symptoms and/or are being tested for swine flu, there is no need to stop your normal everyday activities, such as going to work or school.

Related article: Kent's first swine flu case