Swine flu boy left behind as China frees his classmates

A London schoolboy today told how he is quarantined in a Chinese hospital while his classmates have been released to get on with their holiday.

Matthew Barnett, 14, is the only pupil from his school still in isolation in Beijing after his friends were given the all-clear. He is passing the time eating McDonald's and watching DVDs provided by hospital staff.

Two of his schoolmates from Central Foundation Boys' School in Islington have been released from hospital, while the rest of the class, in quarantine at a nearby hotel with another group
of children, are free to continue their visit to China.

Matthew must stay in the Ditan Infectious Diseases Hospital in Beijing for further tests and more holidaying British pupils from other schools have also been quarantined.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Matthew said: "I feel fine now. "I am taking antivirals but I didn't really have any flu symptoms, I just had
an upset stomach. It is disappointing being made to stay in hospital as I was looking forward to the trip for so long. But I understand why I am
being kept in. It is a mild illness for me but it could be dangerous for older people or babies.

"The hospital is all right, and the staff are bringing me McDonald's and Domino's pizza. I also have a portable DVD player and a laptop that someone gave me which was nice."

He added: "The rest of my class are now staying in a five-star hotel. I don't want them to wait for me before continuing with the trip, but I hope they don't see the Great Wall without me."

Matthew's mother Jackie, 43, from Islington said: "I am less worried now because Matthew is
sounding a lot chirpier. He also had a throat swab which came back negative so hopefully he should be out on Thursday. Then he will have a few days of holiday left before coming home next week."

Ian Tyrell, teacher at the Central Foundation Boys School, said his students are "overjoyed" to be leaving the hotel.

He said: "My group has now had a certification of good health. "The children are absolutely
overjoyed. We're going to another hotel in Beijing and we're going to continue our visit as planned.

"None of the children are going to fly back home and the two boys who have been released from hospital are going to join us on the rest of the trip.

"We are all extremely sad that Matthew will not be joining us. He needs to have two consecutive
negative tests for swine flu before he can be released."

The news comes as two more groups of children were taken to the same Yanxiang hotel to be quarantined.

The British schoolchildren were taken to the hotel with suspected swine flu yesterday, taking the total number of pupils in quarantine to more than 100.

Nine British children are now reported to be in hospital with symptoms of the virus, up from
just four on Saturday. They are among a party of
around 600 British students and teachers who had travelled to China to learn about the country's
culture and language.

Nine American teenagers are also being treated in hospital for the disease. None is thought to be seriously ill.

Disease experts have warned the government that British schools must stay shut after the summer
holidays to contain swine flu. But chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said school closures
were unlikely.