STUDENTS at Bromsgrove School are being warned of the symptoms of a deadly disease, which has been sweeping the Far East, due to the high number of students from Hong Kong and China who board at the school.

And yesterday the school doctor met with the Public Health Service to decide the level of risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, to pupils.

Many boarders at the school are foreign pupils who return to their home countries over the four-week Easter holiday.

In an anonymous phone call to the Advertiser/Messenger, a member of staff from the school expressed concern about coming into contact with the virus when the students return.

The school wrote to parents saying: "We have taken advice from the Public Health Service and consult the World Health Organisation website daily for further details.

"On the airlines and in school at the start of next term, staff will be vigilant and proactive in isolating anybody who develops suspect symptoms."

The symptoms of SARS are a temperature greater than 38 degrees Celsius, coughing, a sore throat or shortness of breath within ten days of returning from South East Asia.

It has claimed 98 deaths world wide to date and there have been 2,601 confirmed cases.

The letter adds: "Parents of international students from Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand or Singapore should seek further up to date travel advice from the World Health Organisation or their national public health authorities in April, before sending students back to the UK."

Consultant in communicable diseases from Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health Protection Agency, Dr David Kirrage said: "The Department of Health issued a bulletin in March to all GPs outlining the symptoms.

"We think the risk of students catching the respiratory disease from fellow students returning from South East Asia is very low."

British travellers have been warned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office not to visit Hong Kong and parts of Southern China.