OXFORD’S two universities are preparing for a predicted resurgence of swine flu as thousands of students return to the city.

There were fears the universities would have to delay term starts due to the risk of students spreading the disease by living in close proximity and sharing facilities.

But both Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University are saying it’s business as usual despite predictions of a second peak in the illness in the autumn.

Dr Anne Gwinnett, director of corporate affairs at Brookes, said staff had spent months preparing for students’ return and that a pandemic flu planning group, including representatives from the university’s medical centre and the Students’ Union, was meeting weekly.

She said: “When we start a new academic year, there is always a little bit of a peak of students having colds and sniffles.

“Because of swine flu, we have gone the extra mile to ensure there is clear advice and guidance to staff as to how we will support them. We are aiming to keep the university running as normally as possible.”

University spokesman Nicola Miller added: “Every university is thinking about this and has prepared accordingly.”

Dr Gwinnett said students and staff who caught swine flu in the summer had recovered well.

Brookes has 19,000 students and 2,500 members of staff.

Students can get a free bottle of hand gel from the campus shop when they start term, while employees have had information leaflets with their August payslips.

A call centre for concerned students will start in Freshers’ Week next Monday, initially staffed by two people, while cleaning staff are being given extra training this month.

Dr Gwinnett said contingency plans were in place in case large numbers of students or staff were affected, including the new website being hosted externally so it could continue to be updated even if IT personnel were struck by the virus.

A spokesman for Oxford University said: “The university is continuing to operate as normal while, at the same time, remaining alert to any students or staff exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

“The university is well prepared should there be a significant number of cases as students return.”

There are 20,000 students at Oxford University and 12,500 staff.

Nationally, the number of suspected swine flu cases has dropped to 3,000 a week, compared to more than 100,000 at its peak, according to the Health Protection Agency.

However, medical experts are predicting cases will increase again as winter approaches.

A total of 75 people have died of the illness in the UK, and 3,491 worldwide.

Annika Howard, spokesman for Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust, said: “We think it may peak again but at the moment the number of cases is low.”

Brookes students should visit flu.brookes.ac.uk, follow twitter.com/ oxford_brookes or call 01865 484499 from September 21. Oxford University students can visit ox.ac.uk/flu or call 0800 138 3600