Schoolchildren hit by salmonella

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Eight pupils at a Wiltshire school have been confirmed as suffering from salmonella infection.

More than 20 children at Pembroke Park primary in Salisbury were sent home after an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting at the school.

The source of the outbreak is being investigated by the Health Protection Agency and environmental health staff.

Parents have been given fact sheets on the symptoms and are being asked to keep sick children away.

SALMONELLA SYMPTOMS DiarrhoeaNausea and vomitingStomach pains and crampsHigh temperatureHeadacheMalaise Source Health Protection Agency

A Salisbury District Council spokesman said the source of the outbreak was being investigated.

"Advice has been provided to the school on precautions to limit the spread of infection, and local GPs have also been alerted.

"Information has also been provided directly to parents, who have been advised that children should not return to school until 48 hrs after recovering from the illness."

The Health Protection Agency says salmonella is usually caught from raw or undercooked food particularly meat, poultry and eggs or foods that have been in contact with these.

The agency says person to person spread can occur, particularly when persons have diarrhoea.

It can also be caught by handling certain exotic reptiles.