A TEENAGER who fought back from the brink of death after she was struck down by meningitis today threw her weight behind calls for more research into the disease.

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School pupil Elizabeth Baines, 16, is backing an appeal by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans for the Government to cough up more cash to fund research into the brain bug.

Elizabeth, of Jeffrey Hill, Thornley, near Chipping, was admitted to Royal Preston Hospital last month after collapsing at school, where she is studying for A levels in maths, chemistry and biology.

She was unconscious in the hospital's intensive care unit for three days, but returned home this week after making a full recovery.

She said she fully supported the MP's calls and was now considering a career in pharmaceutical research.

She said: "I agree with Mr Evans. The Government should fund research into meningitis. Anyone can get it at any time. It is a serious disease. Elizabeth collapsed at school with flu-like symptoms, including "a bad headache and sore muscles."

"One day I was at school, the next I was in intensive care. I thought I had flu, but ended up unconscious for nearly three days in hospital. I am doing fine now, but I am one of the lucky ones," she said.

Elizabeth said she hoped to return to school after half-term and eventually try for a place at university.

Mr Evans made his call during a House of Commons debate on the country's deepening meningitis crisis.

He asked whether extra funding would be made available, if the Government had consulted the National Meningitis Trust and whether counselling was being made available to parents and children at schools affected by the disease.

He said: "Meningitis is at its highest level since the 1950s and does not appear to be conforming to the usual cyclical pattern. This swift killer can strike anywhere. We need to find out what causes this disease and how to prevent it, before more lives are lost."

For more information on meningitis and its symptoms contact the Lancashire Evening Telegraph helpline on 0990 446644. Enter selection 8219 when prompted.

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