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25/06/2012
Meningitis Cases At County Down School
A primary school child has meningitis and another at the same Northern Ireland school may have the infection.
The second case at the Our Lady and St Patrick's primary school in Downpatrick is being treated as a "probable case" and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is investigating.
The children are "responding well" to treatment, their school principal Hugh Kelly said, and all other pupils and staff at the school have been offered precautionary antibiotics.
Common symptoms of meningitis include drowsiness, vomiting, fever with cold hands and feet, a stiff neck and dislike of bright lights.
If somebody develops a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed on it, this is a medical emergency and help should be sought immediately.
Mr Kelly urged parents of the 400 children who attend the primary to speak to medical professionals from the PHA and the South Eastern and Social Care Trust when they visit the school today (Monday) to give antibiotics out.
Dr Brian Smyth, consultant in health protection at the PHA, told the BBC: "I would like to reassure the parents of the children who attend the school that the likelihood of further cases at the school is low but, in line with standard national advice, as there have been two cases recently at the school, we are providing antibiotics to pupils and staff. The risk to the wider community is extremely low."
The PHA said there are approximately 60-70 cases of meningococcal meningitis each year in Northern Ireland.
(NE/GK)
The second case at the Our Lady and St Patrick's primary school in Downpatrick is being treated as a "probable case" and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is investigating.
The children are "responding well" to treatment, their school principal Hugh Kelly said, and all other pupils and staff at the school have been offered precautionary antibiotics.
Common symptoms of meningitis include drowsiness, vomiting, fever with cold hands and feet, a stiff neck and dislike of bright lights.
If somebody develops a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed on it, this is a medical emergency and help should be sought immediately.
Mr Kelly urged parents of the 400 children who attend the primary to speak to medical professionals from the PHA and the South Eastern and Social Care Trust when they visit the school today (Monday) to give antibiotics out.
Dr Brian Smyth, consultant in health protection at the PHA, told the BBC: "I would like to reassure the parents of the children who attend the school that the likelihood of further cases at the school is low but, in line with standard national advice, as there have been two cases recently at the school, we are providing antibiotics to pupils and staff. The risk to the wider community is extremely low."
The PHA said there are approximately 60-70 cases of meningococcal meningitis each year in Northern Ireland.
(NE/GK)
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