Springfield Primary School and nursery was closed today after a large number of pupils and teachers were struck down with mysterious “flu-like” symptoms.
A statement on Fife Council’s website and Facebook page on Sunday night said the school would be closed until further notice due to a health and safety issue.
Donald Gillespie, headteacher of Springfield Primary School, told The Courier later that the problem was a “flu-like bug”. The school was being “deep cleaned” as a precaution and the school was expected to reopen on Tuesday.
Mr Gillespie said:”A large number of pupils and teachers are currently absent from the school with flu-like symptoms. As a precautionary measure, the school has been closed today.
“Although the school is not the source of infection, it will be deep-cleaned this afternoon to remove the risk of any infection which may have been brought into the building. The school will open again as normal tomorrow morning.”
Springfield Primary has a total of 42 pupils at the school and 16 at the nursery.
NHS Fife director of public health Dr Edward Coyle said: “We cannot confirm the nature of the organism causing this condition.
“Respiratory viruses, including those causing colds and influenza, for example, are common around this time of year and are likely to be acquired from the wider community.
“Those who feel unwell are best advised to stay at home until they have been free of symptoms for 24 hours.
“We continue to work closely with our colleagues at Fife Council.”
Last month a vomiting bug forced another Fife school to close its doors.
A “high” number of pupils from Sinclairtown Primary School called in sick in the middle of February after contracting the mystery sickness bug, with more pupils being sent home as the day progressed.
Those premises were also deep cleaned to avoid further contamination.
Meanwhile, last week a number of Dundee schools were affected by a scarlet fever outbreak.