Newhaven primary school hit by mystery illness (From The Argus)

Newhaven primary school hit by mystery illness

11:02am Saturday 30th June 2012 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter

INFECTIOUS disease specialists have been called in after one in ten pupils at a Sussex primary school were struck down with a mystery illness.

Children have been told not to drink from water fountains and the Health Protection Agency was alerted after 17 pupils and four teachers fell ill at Meeching Valley Primary in Newhaven.

The school has been instructed to carry out a deep clean over the weekend to try to stop the illness spreading further.

The outbreak meant that the school’s summer fete – which was due to take place today – has had to be cancelled. The pupils’ sports day yesterday was also called off because it was felt advisable not to have a lot of visitors on the premises.

Parents of pupils at the school contacted The Argus to say how concerned they were.

One mother said: “First of all the school were not allowing the children to drink water out of the water fountains because they are concerned about it spreading.

“Then they came home with a letter saying there was nothing wrong with the water, but that the sports day and summer fete would be cancelled.

“It is worrying as there have been a lot of children sick.”

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: “Letters have gone home to parents and a text was sent to parents in the week telling them to have water bottles with them.

“For them it has been a large number of pupils – on Wednesday 17 out of 176.

“There have also been four members of staff off ill.

“They phoned the Health Protection Agency, who advised the school the best thing to do was have a deep clean.

“As a precaution they switched off the drinking fountains to stop the spread of infection.

“There is no suggestion that the water is contaminated.

“No one is seriously ill.”