PARENTS have been put on full alert following an outbreak of meningitis in a nursery which has left one boy dead and another child in hospital.
The meningococcal septicaemia struck the boy and girl, both aged two, at the Little People Day Nursery, in Colne.
Children and staff are being offered antibiotics from East Lancashire Health Authority's Department of Public Health.
The authority are now calling for children and people who work with youngsters to take the preventive antibiotics.
Doctor Roberta Marshall, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for East Lancashire Health Authority, said: "The risk of any further cases occurring in children attending the nursery is extremely small.
"However, as a precaution, we are offering all staff and children at the nursery preventive antibiotics."
Children, staff and immediate close family contacts are being advised to see their GP today for a prescription for antibiotics.
Parents are being warned of the symptoms which include rash, drowsiness, fever, vomiting, cold hands and feet, rapid breathing, severe headache, stiff neck and dislike of bright lights.
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