by Lynn Cox

Several more schools in Medway have reported presumed cases of swine flu and another has decided to send pupils home.

St Mary's Island Primary in Chatham Maritime closed today.

A spokesman for Medway Council said: “St Mary’s Island School will be closed today and the situation will be reviewed again (on Monday).”
The school remained open during the early part of the week, as the Health Protection Agency (HPA) advised, but the situation was reviewed on Friday as several pupils were thought to have the virus.Allhallows Primary School in Avery Way, Allhallows, and the Hundred of Hoo School, in Main Road, Hoo, and St Margaret’s Infants and Juniors, both Orchard Street, Rainham, all have suspected cases.
The Hundred of Hoo School sent texts out to parents to inform them about the outbreak and four children are said to have the virus, but the school has decided to stay open.

Allhallows Primary was closed yesterday, Thursday.
A spokesman for NHS Medway said the national guidance now is that lab testing has now stopped and that it does not have information on all individual cases now.
Advice from the HPA is that schools are now advised to stay open as it does not make a difference because the virus is circulating in the community.
If you have 'flu-like symptoms, stay at home, and if you feel really unwell, see your GP for treatment.