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A(H1N1) flu fears hit All England Club

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-30 10:03

LONDON: Some staff members at the Wimbledon tennis championships have reported "flu-like" symptoms but the competition will continue "as normal", organizers said yesterday.

Ian Ritchie, the chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which runs the annual grand slam in southwest London, sent a message to staff to inform them of the situation.

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Club sources told AFP that a handful of ball boys and ball girls were affected but nobody had been confirmed as having contracted the H1N1 virus.

The club takes on approximately 4,600 extra staff to run the grass court championships, including 250 ball boys and girls recruited from local schools.

More than 4,300 H1N1 flu cases have been diagnosed in Britain.

"A small number of our championships' personnel have reported a flu-like illness and have consequently been asked to stay at home," Ritchie said.

"Having consulted closely with the Health Protection Agency, we have been reassured that since the incidence is entirely in line with the wider London community, there is no particular extra risk to all those connected with the event, be they players, media, staff or spectators.

"We are able to continue with the championships as normal. We shall of course be monitoring the situation closely," Ritchie added.

H1N1 flu has infected more than 70,000 people worldwide with 311 deaths since late March, the World Health Organization said yesterday.

AFP