Mystery virus hits two more schools

A mystery virus that has kept hundreds of children away from a school in Cornwall spread to other schools.

Health officials were hoping swabs and blood tests taken from pupils would pinpoint the identity of the flu-like illness, which first struck Fowey Community College on Friday. Yesterday 506 of the school's 1,100 pupils were away, a slight improvement on the peak of 523. A spokesman for Cornwall County Council said pupils were returning to school but others were falling sick. Absentees among the 55 staff had risen from eight to 11.

The virus also spread to Polruan primary school, where 15 of the 51 pupils were absent, and at Biscovey primary, where 49 of the 300 pupils were absent.

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority said the symptoms were fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, aching muscles or joints and nausea. The authority said it expected tests to show the problem was a "common virus".