Halstead Hospital has also had to be deep cleaned following an outbreak of swine flu and seasonal flu over Christmas.

The hospital was unable to take any new admissions until Tuesday this week because of attempts to contain the outbreak.

Halstead schools are poised for a flu outbreak after youngsters returned following the festive break.

Headteacher David Iles of Richard de Clare Primary School said: “We have had another look at our policy in the case of an epidemic.

“But it’s been a normal start to term.”