Caerphilly school shuts as ‘flu-like’ illness hits 250 pupils and staff

More than 250 pupils and staff members have fallen ill at a secondary school, prompting a temporary closure to limit further spread.

In an email, seen by BBC Wales, the head teacher at St Martin’s School in Caerphilly told parents and carers the school had experienced “a significant outbreak of flu-like illness”.

Lee Jarvis added the school would shut for a short “firebreak” period to allow a deep clean, with online learning in place.

Public Health Wales coinfirmed it had been in communication with the school, which made the decision to close following its own risk assessment.

A total of 242 pupils and 12 members of staff have been reported absent from St Martin’s, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, high temperatures, cough, headaches, fatigue and “general flu-like effects”, Mr Jarvis wrote.

He said the average recovery time appeared to be about seven days.

The email explained the school would close temporarily to allow time to reduce transmission and complete a deep clean of the building, with the aim of reopening on Tuesday 9 December.

But Mr Jarvis said the situation would be monitored and updates issued to families as needed.

Parents were urged to keep children at home if they showed any symptoms, “even if mild”.

Public Health Wales said it had been in contact with the school and understood “the school has done a risk assessment and decided to shut down temporarily”.

BBC Wales has approached head teacher Lee Jarvis for comment.