CHILDREN and staff at a Warrington nursery school are being given anti-viral drugs after a four-year-old tested positive for swine flu.

The child, who has not been identified, was attending a day nursery attached to Grappenhall Heys Primary School when symptoms appeared.

Health bosses said that the school will remain open as normal and the affected youngster is currently making a good recovery at home.

Warrington Primary Care Trust distanced the school from the infection by revealing that the child caught the virus from a holidaymaker who was infected abroad and had no connection with the school.

The news comes after the World Health Organisation raised the official status of the virus to pandemic.

According to their figures there have been more than 29,000 cases in 74 countries around the world and as of June 12, 145 deaths.

A spokesman for Warrington Primary Care Trust said: "We can confirm that a four-year-old child in Warrington has tested positive for the new virus H1N1v swine flu infection.

"It is understood that the child caught the virus from a confirmed case which was infected abroad and has no association with the school.

"As a precautionary measure, 65 children and staff who had significant contact with the child are being given anti-viral medication and can continue to attend school as normal, unless they develop flu-like symptoms. Children not identified as being at risk should continue to attend the school as normal.

"There is no reason for the school to close."