COCKENZIE Primary School today (Monday) reported 18 new cases of a sickness bug which swept through the school this past week, but "the worst is definitely over".

More than a quarter of pupils at the school have been affected by the norovirus outbreak, which first appeared on Wednesday last week.

On Friday, the school, which has a roll of 420 youngsters, reported 108 children were absent. It is believed that about a third of those who did not attend on Friday were kept at home by parents as a precautionary measure.

Three members of staff were also reported to have caught the bug.

Advice by the school and NHS Lothian to parents has been to keep sick children off school until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours. East Lothian Council recommends parents keep their children at home for two school days, so those who went off sick on Friday did not return to classrooms today.

The After School Club which was advised by the school last Thursday to close is back open today after public health bosses advised that the severity of the outbreak had now passed.

At the peak of the virus, it is understood about 45 per cent of the school's P3 class, for instance, were off sick – today that had reduced to seven per cent, or just four pupils.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: "The worst is definitely over. We carried out extensive deep cleaning of communal areas and classrooms over the weekend."

First cases of the bug were reported last Wednesday when it was estimated that about 40 pupils were off sick. By Thursday a further 18 cases had been reported with 15 added to the sick list on Friday.

Professor Alison McCallum, director of public health and health policy, NHS Lothian, said: "We are monitoring cases of norovirus circulating in the wider community, including an outbreak at Cockenzie Primary School.

"Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, causes vomiting and diarrhoea and is very contagious. However, you can help reduce the spread of infection with frequent and thorough hand-washing, and disinfecting surfaces that are easily contaminated.

"If you should get the infection, do not go to school or to work until you have been clear of any symptoms for 48 hours. If symptoms persist beyond 72 hours, contact your doctor."