AROUND 85-90 children of a Poole school are showing symptoms of the highly contagious Norovirus as it spreads through the middle school.

By yesterday nine staff of Canford Heath Middle School had also picked up the unpleasant bug. And many more children had been kept off school as a precaution.

Dr Adrian Dawson, director of public health at NHS Bournemouth and Poole, said: “Norovirus is highly infectious, but while the symptoms are alarming they are not life threatening, with most people recovering within two to three days.

“I urge people with vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms not to attend school or work to prevent norovirus spreading.”

Sue Pelham, executive head of the middle school, which has 350 pupils aged eight to 12, said they were following advice from the Health Protection Agency. Extra cleaning was being carried out and hand gels were available for the children to use.

“We are doing everything we have been advised to do by the Health Protection Agency,” she said.

“We have obviously been closed over the half-term and came back on Monday with some children displaying the symptoms,” she said.

“I would like to reassure parents we are doing all we can to keep the children safe. For those parents who are sending their children in we are keeping a close watch on their wellbeing as they go through the day.”

She said there was no intention to close the school, but if more staff were stricken that could be a possibility.

Dr Dawson urged people with persistent symptoms of the virus, also called the “winter vomiting bug”, or who had blood in vomit or stools to seek medical advice immediately by telephoning their GP practice rather than attending.

After vomiting or diarrhoea, people should replace lost fluid by sipping water, he said.

“Good hand hygiene is very important to prevent this bug spreading, so please be particularly vigilant in washing your hands, especially after going to the toilet and before preparing food,” he advised.