A 12-YEAR-OLD Blackburn girl has died from the killer brain-bug meningitis, East Lancashire Health Authority confirmed today.

The seriously ill Pleckgate High School pupil was admitted to Blackburn's Queen's Park Hospital on Sunday where she died in the paediatric ward yesterday afternoon.

Her family have requested that her identity is not revealed.

The hospital's pathologist was today carrying out tests which are expected to confirm that the youngster died as a result of the meningococcal form of meningitis, transferred in the form of droplets from the nose or throat.

The source of the outbreak is also being traced.

Pleckgate Headteacher Mr Len Scott said the tragic death had come as a tremendous shock to everyone at the school and sent his deepest sympathies to the family concerned.

Today Mr Scott said he wished to draw attention to East Lancashire Health Authority's assurances that "the chances of another case of meningitis occurring at the school are low". He added: "We have had a special staff meeting, followed by year group meetings, at which we gave out all necessary information about this case.

"We have also offered counselling support to those pupils who may need it."

All pupils at the school in Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, were given a copy of the letter of advice from the health authority after school yesterday.

Doctors at Queen's Park had been due to transfer the girl to a paediatric intensive care unit in Manchester when she died.

Dr Stephen Morton, Director of Public Health for East Lancashire, said samples would be sent away to the Public Health Laboratory in Manchester and that the type of meningitis should be confirmed within two to three days.

Her family have been given antibiotics in line with standard practice.

Dr Morton said parents of young children should be wary of cold-like symptoms which develop into youngsters becoming confused, particularly unwell and displaying a rash with red spots which do not whiten when pressed.

He added: "If this happens they should move fairly quickly. If their own doctor is not available they should take the child to the nearest hospital."

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