Deadly virus strikes three more

A 22-month-old toddler and a two-year-old boy are being treated at Burnley General Hospital.

A 15-year-old boy, who attends Alder Grange High School, Rawtenstall, was also admitted to Burnley General on Tuesday, but was allowed home yesterday.

The 22-month-old boy, from the Nelson area, was admitted on Wednesday and is said to be "improving" and the two-year-old, from the Bacup area, was admitted on Thursday and is said to be "doing well".

A spokeswoman for East Lancashire Health Authority said it was not thought the cases were linked.

Last Friday a three-year-old girl from Burnley, who attends Reedley Primary School pre-school nursery, was admitted to Burnley General with suspected meningitis. She is now back home with her parents. Headteacher Linda Sproston said: "I saw her at her home with her parents and she is doing very well. She will be staying at home for another week to make sure she is fully over the illness before she comes back to school.

"We are just so grateful to be able to say she is all right. Her parents have been told she had a meningitis infection but the type has yet to be confirmed."

The girl was treated at Burnley General Hospital, transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, but brought back to Burnley on Monday.

She has been at home since Wednesday.

The latest incidents bring this year's total so far to 65 reported cases of meningitis infection.

Already there is an increase in reported cases of the disease of almost 30 per cent, but public health nurse Jeff Scott stressed these cases were reported and not all were confirmed meningitis.

A vaccination programme against the type C strain, which accounts for about 40 per cent of cases, began in East Lancashire this week.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph meningitis helpline number is 0990 446644. Enter selection 8219.

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