ESSEX has suffered its first two swine flu deaths.

It was announced a patient had died of the condition at Basildon Hospital on Friday.

He is not thought to have had any existing serious medical problems, but investigations are continuing.

No further details are being released.

The second victim was a 66-year-old man, who was seriously unwell before contracting swine flu, died at St Bartholomew’s Hospital on Thursday.

At the family’s request, no further details of the man are being released.

Meanwhile, the headteacher of a Colchester secondary school is believed to have contracted the virus.

Letters were sent home with pupils at Colchester’s Sir Charles Lucas School, on Greenstead, saying it is believed principal Jude Hanner has the virus.

They told parents that the school would continue to remain open, following Government guidelines.

Deputy principal Clare Gleave said: “It is likely, but not confirmed, that Mrs Hanner has swine flu.

“In staying open, we are following Government guidelines. We made the decision to contact parents as the right and responsible thing to do but it is not something we have to do.”

Essex County Council has advised schools not to close due to individual cases of swine flu, but has said they could close if circumstances warranted it.

But one parent, whose child has asthma and is a pupil at the Hawthorn Avenue School, expressed concern after news that the small number of cases that have proved fatal nationwide have had other underlying health problems.

Mrs Gleave said they were advising parents to go to the swine flu information website, or NHS Direct, for advice.

There have already been reported cases at Essex County Council, Braintree Council, Colne Community School, Elmstead Primary School, and a suspected case at St Mary’s Primary School, in Kelvedon.

Residents who suspect they may have come down with the illness are being urged to just sit it out and stay away from hospitals and their GP but instead visit nhs.uk or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 to check symptoms. In most cases swine flu is a minor illness which requires antiviral medication.