A SOUTHAMPTON school is to remain closed for a third day after a flu outbreak.

Redbridge Community School head teacher Jason Ashley says a number of staff remain unwell with the virus, which is said to have infected more than 250 students and 40 staff.

School chiefs had planned to reopen tomorrow, after initially announcing plans to close on Friday and Monday for a deep clean.

However, Mr Ashley said the school will remained closed on Tuesday, but it will open "come what may" on Wednesday.

He said: "Redbridge Community School will be closed on Tuesday as we still have lots of staff unwell.

"We will be open come what may on Wednesday."

As previously reported in the Echo, school chiefs contacted parents on Thursday to inform them that the school would close on Friday and Monday after a flu outbreak.

More than 250 students and 40 staff from Redbridge Community School reportedly fell ill with the highly contagious virus.

One teacher was even admitted to hospital with flu symptoms, including severe chest pains, and was treated with antiviral drugs.

The school, which has around 1,000 students, was shut in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus and to allow a team to deep-clean the premises.

The decision was also taken due to staffing levels, after a disproportionate number of employees became infected.

Mr Ashley, who has been in teaching for 22 years, said: “I’ve never experienced a flu outbreak like it.

“It’s the worst outbreak I’ve ever seen.

“It was like dominoes, just one person after the other. It really hit us hard.”

Mr Ashley said he became aware of the outbreak on Wednesday, when a number of students were sent home with flu-like symptoms.

On Thursday, 12 staff members rang in sick and several were sent home during the school day.

After consulting Public Health England and Southampton City Council, Mr Ashley said he decided to close the school on both Friday and Monday.

He said 40 employees, around half of the school’s staff, have now reported having symptoms, while a quarter of the school’s students are also reportedly sick.

Mr Ashley said: “It really was surprising how quickly it spread."

The news of the closure of Redbridge Community School comes as public health bosses both locally and nationally have warned of an increase in reports of flu.

They have warned that this current strain, called A(H1N1)pdm09, is particularly affecting people of a working-age.

Conall Watson, health protection consultant and flu lead for Public Health England south east, said: “Specialists from Public Health England South East have been notified about an outbreak at a Southampton school and we have provided advice to the school to help reduce the risks of the illness spreading to others.