Harpenden pupils caught up in China swine-flu scare

PUPILS from a secondary school are among the 1,000 students on a trip to China which has been struck by swine flu. But the 20 sixth formers and three students from St George s School in Harpenden are unaffected by the virus which has led to the quarantini

PUPILS from a secondary school are among the 1,000 students on a trip to China which has been struck by swine flu.

But the 20 sixth formers and three students from St George's School in Harpenden are unaffected by the virus which has led to the quarantining of 50 students from various other schools on the trip.

The students are on a two-week cultural excursion to the country which has already seen them explore the capital Beijing and they have now moved on to the provincial city of Xian.

Pupils from other schools who have tested positive for swine flu and others who are showing signs of the virus have been quarantined in a hotel in Beijing.

St George's headmaster Norman Hoare said that all his students and staff were well and having a fantastic time.

He explained that all of their temperatures were being taken two to three times a day to ensure they have not caught the virus.

The school has been on alert since the outbreak of swine flu in the UK and one student was diagnosed with the condition two weeks ago.

Mr Hoare said that taking additional hygiene precautions had become "second nature" to all of his students.