More than 250 pupils and staff members have fallen ill at a secondary school, prompting a temporary closure to limit further spread.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
Lee Jarvis added the school would shut for a short “firebreak” period to allow a deep clean, with online learning in place.<\/p>\n
Public Health Wales confirmed it had been in communication with the school, which made the decision to close following its own risk assessment.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He said the average recovery time appeared to be about seven days.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But Mr Jarvis said the situation would be monitored and updates issued to families as needed.<\/p>\n
Parents were urged to keep children at home if they showed any symptoms, “even if mild”.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
BBC Wales has approached head teacher Lee Jarvis for comment.<\/p>\n
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