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China quarantines school groups China quarantines school groups
(about 2 hours later)
More than 100 schoolchildren and their teachers from the UK and US have been quarantined in Beijing after eight children were found to have swine flu.More than 100 schoolchildren and their teachers from the UK and US have been quarantined in Beijing after eight children were found to have swine flu.
The eight - four British and four American - are being treated in a Beijing hospital and all are said to be in a stable condition. The four UK and four US children are being treated in a Beijing hospital and are said to be in a stable condition.
The children had just started a visit to the country to learn about Chinese culture and language.The children had just started a visit to the country to learn about Chinese culture and language.
China has taken an aggressive approach to containing the spread of swine flu. Four of the 52 British pupils affected told the BBC from their hotel room that they were being well looked after.
It has quarantined hundreds of foreign visitors who have shown symptoms of the H1N1 virus or who have travelled with people suspected of having the disease. The four, who attend Clevedon School in north Somerset, are all in their late teens and are part of a group of 12 from that school, plus two teachers.
"We are quarantined in the hotel and are all currently well as we have daily temperature checks which are all good," they said in an e-mail sent from their hotel room.
"The hotel is really nice and we have proper toilets. We hope we experience more of China as we should be out within four days."
One of the boys, Christopher Hicks, said that they had been visiting the Great Wall of China when they were called back, because they had previously shared a bus with a pupil from another school who had tested positive for the virus.
High temperaturesHigh temperatures
Both British and American groups were on visits organised by the Confucius Institute, an official Chinese body which promotes Chinese language and culture overseas.
Speaking about the four UK pupils who have swine flu, the institute's director, Katharine Carruthers, said: "They are being extremely well looked after and cared for, to the extent where they're getting pizza delivered to where they are. They are all happy and getting better.
China has previously quarantined students in hotels
"There are a number of children in quarantine in very comfortable conditions in a four-star hotel in Beijing, who have been in close contact with the swine flu cases.
"Everyone is in good spirits, getting involved in activities and carrying on their Chinese learning."
There are 600 students from across the UK who arrived in the Chinese capital this week and the vast majority are continuing their trip as normal, she said.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Beijing, said three of the four UK children were found to have high temperatures when they arrived in Beijing earlier in the week.The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Beijing, said three of the four UK children were found to have high temperatures when they arrived in Beijing earlier in the week.
They were taken straight from the airport to a hospital where it was confirmed they had the virus. A fourth classmate fell ill later.They were taken straight from the airport to a hospital where it was confirmed they had the virus. A fourth classmate fell ill later.
The American children had been in contact with the UK group and four of them were also diagnosed as having the virus.The American children had been in contact with the UK group and four of them were also diagnosed as having the virus.
UK Foreign Office officials say 52 British schoolchildren and their teachers are now quarantined in a Beijing hotel.UK Foreign Office officials say 52 British schoolchildren and their teachers are now quarantined in a Beijing hotel.
The BBC understands a similar number of Americans is also under quarantine.The BBC understands a similar number of Americans is also under quarantine.
Amii van Amerongen, from London, told the BBC that her 15-year-old sister was one of the children under quarantine.Amii van Amerongen, from London, told the BBC that her 15-year-old sister was one of the children under quarantine.
"She called me this morning telling me that she is confined in a hotel and she is being very brave about the whole thing. She said it was quite intimidating - they have these 'guns' that they point at your head which measure your temperature," she said."She called me this morning telling me that she is confined in a hotel and she is being very brave about the whole thing. She said it was quite intimidating - they have these 'guns' that they point at your head which measure your temperature," she said.
A Foreign Office statement said British Embassy officials in China were trying to make contact with the organisers of the school group and their schools in the UK "to ensure that full information is available to all those involved".
The UK students are from schools across England.
The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust said they were among a group of 278 children aged 14 and older - plus 49 teachers - which left the UK earlier this week.
China has previously quarantined students in hotels
Their parents have been told that the quarantine should last a week.
It is not known where the American children are from.
Chinese officials told the BBC that the children were being well looked after and they had regular contact with their families.Chinese officials told the BBC that the children were being well looked after and they had regular contact with their families.
It is understood that both groups were on visits organised by the Confucius Institute, an official Chinese body which promotes Chinese language and culture overseas. Simon Calder, travel editor for the UK's Independent newspaper, told the BBC that many countries were using "thermal imaging" at airports to test travellers, and the UK was viewed as a high-risk area.
Simon Calder, travel editor for the UK's Independent newspaper, told the BBC that many countries were using "thermal imaging" at airports to test travellers. China has taken an aggressive approach to containing the spread of swine flu.
"You queue up to get your visa, you then queue up to get your temperature taken," he said. It has quarantined hundreds of foreign visitors who have shown symptoms of the H1N1 virus or who have travelled with people suspected of having the disease.
"A number of people are reporting they've had to fill quite complicated forms out about their state of health.
"Britain is seen by a number of countries as a possible high-risk area. Of course the vast majority of people who contract swine flu actually get better with paracetamol and rest."
China drew criticism in May when it quarantined a group of Mexican tourists who later complained they were badly treated.
Mexican officials said its citizens had been being unfairly confined and that the Mexican ambassador was denied access to the group being held at a Beijing hotel.
However, China said the steps it had taken were both lawful and justified.
Have you or your family been quarantined in China? Send us your comments and stories using the form below.Have you or your family been quarantined in China? Send us your comments and stories using the form below.
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