A PUPIL at Minehead First School has been diagnosed with possible swine flu.

But the boy, who has not been confirmed as having the virus, is being treated and is recovering well.

Headteacher Brenda Coupe sent a letter to all parents this week to alert them but said the school would remain open as usual.

The school has been liaising with the Dorset and Somerset Health Protection Unit and NHS Somerset.

"As swine flu is now circulating in the community, closing down a school would not necessarily help as people could still be exposed to the virus outside the school," said Mrs Coupe.

It is believed to be the second case of swine flu in West Somerset, with a patient from Minehead diagnosed around a month ago now fully recovered.

There were only eight confirmed cases of the virus in the whole of the county up to last Wednesday.

And the following day, following an announcement by the Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham and the Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson, the Health Protection Agency and Somerset's public health services announced they would be implementing new guidance on the treatment and management of swine flu.

Numbers of confirmed cases will no longer be made public because a 'treatment' response, as opposed to the previous 'containment' has now come into force.

Under the new guidance, GPs will be able to diagnose and treat swine flu on the basis of patients' symptoms rather than having to wait for confirmation via laboratory results.

The routine tracing of people who have come into contact with confirmed cases will end.

However, people considered to be at high risk - including those with long-term medical conditions such as chronic liver, lung, heart and kidney disease, people with asthma who have taken medication in the last three years, those with diabetes, pregnant women and the under fives and over 65s - may still be offered anti-viral drugs in some situations as a preventative measure.

Schools and other institutions will only close if, for example, a significant number of pupils or teachers fall ill.

Public health doctors in Somerset are still stressing that in most confirmed cases of swine flu, patients have displayed only mild symptoms.

The infection is described as 'self limiting' and the majority of patients recover quickly after resting at home.

Dr Caroline Gamlin, director of public health for Somerset, said: "Now we have moved into a treatment phase for anyone with suspected swine flu symptoms, the single most important measure that everyone can take to slow down the spread of the virus is good personal hygiene.

"This means avoiding coughing or sneezing near other people and always catching your cough or sneeze in a tissue, throwing it in a bin and washing your hands as soon as possible afterwards.

"If anyone suspects they might have swine flu then they are advised to stay at home, thereby reducing the spread of infection to others and to telephone their family doctor for advice.

Anyone worried they might have the virus can contact the Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513 or visit the NHS website at http://www.nhs.uk">www.nhs.uk.