CLEANING BLITZ CRACKDOWN ON SWINE FLU.

Byline: ANNE-MARIE SENIOR

EXTRA cleaning measures are being put in place across Kirklees sports centres to stop swine flu spreading.

Kirklees Active Leisure - which runs sites including Huddersfield Sports Centre - is issuing staff with alcohol hand gel and stepping up cleaning processes to keep its facilities open throughout the outbreak.

The move comes as more Kirklees schools have been hit by the virus.

Three cases have been reported at Scissett Middle School. They and Holmfirth High School are the latest to issue warning letters to parents after pupils came down with swine flu.

It means that at least seven Kirklees schools have been affected so far. The cases come just days after students were also diagnosed at the nearby Kirkroyds Infant School and Netherthong Primary School.

Today Kirklees Council was unable to confirm the exact number of schools with swine flu.

A spokeswoman said: "Reporting methods for swine flu have changed and it is impossible to identify specific areas of occurrence.

"All Kirklees schools are breaking up for the summer holidays over the next few days and until then all are open as usual, in line with national guidance."

Kirklees Active Leisure chief executive Alasdair Brown said: "The main message we would endorse is that there is no need to panic.

"We will endeavour to keep all our sports centres and swimming pools open as normal over the foreseeable future.

"We have agreed to keep all staff updated weekly with any new developments.

"Front-line staff have been issued with hygienic hand gel and have increased their already rigorous cleaning and hygiene regime.

"All sites will display posters asking for customers' co-operation in trying to reduce infection by catching coughs and sneezes in tissues, disposing of these and washing their hands on a regular basis.

"We hope that by looking at any measures we can take to reduce the spread of the virus, we will help to reduce any impact it may have on customers and staff whose health remains, as always, our main concern.

"We would ask our customers to continue enjoying our facilities and remain active."

Anyone with suspected swine flu symptoms can visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.