At least two Mt Druitt schools are believed to have cancelled classes recently because of the virus, which so far has claimed three lives in Australia.

A message from Bethel Christian School was sent to the Star website on June 14 saying that classes were locked down two days earlier because several students had the virus and that several classes would be cancelled the next day.

But principal Stephen Snowden declined to comment when contacted last week.

A Whalan Public School mother also contacted the Star by the website on Thursday, June 18, to say that the whole school was in lockdown after two confirmed cases of swine flu.

The mother said students had been told to stay home on June 18 and 19.

She said a student in a remedial class had been confirmed and that one of the five teachers tested had also come back positive to the virus.

Classes resumed last week but a newsletter was sent out urging parents to keep children at home if they had a runny nose, cough or other flu-like symptoms, and to obtain a medical clearance.

The Star contacted the school for a comment, but was referred to a Department of Education and Training media spokesman.

``We cannot confirm or deny any details because of privacy reasons,'' the spokesman said.

The spokesman denied the reports that the whole school was in lockdown.

``There were some teachers absent because of a number of illnesses,'' he said.

``We informed parents, some of whom decided to keep their children at home.''