by Mary Graham
mgraham@thekmgroup.co.uk

A swine flu sufferer has described how the virus forced her into quarantine in her own home, almost unable to move.

Julia Batt, pictured right, of Tarragon Road, Barming, was left exhausted by the symptoms.

The spread of the illness is now believed to be unstoppable, with the government warning that most families will be touched by it in some way. A boy of six from Strood is believed to have died from swine flu.

The virus meant that for several days Cllr Batt was unable to leave her home and could not carry out her duties as the Lib Dem councillor for Heath ward at Maidstone council.

She said she started feeling unwell at the beginning of last week and she grew quickly worse.

Cllr Batt said: “I just couldn’t move a muscle. It was utter chaos in my house as my youngest son is too young for school and he just ran amok.

“I slept through everything. He tipped yoghurt over me while I was sleeping and I didn’t even wake up."

• For the full story, see the Kent Messenger.
• Click here for more on swine flu around the county.