Pupils given drugs after baby dies of meningitis

Jan 5 2005 By Mary Murtagh And Mike Hornby, Daily Post

DOZENS of Merseyside schoolchildren are being treated with antibiotics after a meningitis outbreak in which a five-month-old baby died, it emerged yesterday.

Baby Chloe Hutchinson died on Christmas Eve after contracting strain B of the deadly virus for which there is no vaccination.

Her four-year-old brother Joshua and another pupil at the reception class of St Peter and Paul RC primary school, in Tower Hill, Kirkby, also developed the disease. Both were admitted to hospital but have made a full recovery.

Yesterday Parish priest Fr Michael Thompson said: "Chloe is a little angel and her family are saying their farewells today.

"It has been a very hard time for them but they have remained dignified throughout."

An alert was put out on the school's website on Boxing Day and the nursery school opened one day last week to give 21 classmates and two staff members antibiotics as a precaution.

Relatives of the dead child and others who have come into contact with the families have also been treated with a course of Rifampicin.

Dr Basil Wiratunga, consultant in health protection with the Health Protection Agency, said: "It is always very sad when a young child dies in these circumstances.

"We feel desperately sorry for the family and they have our deepest sympathy.

"We followed national guidelines in treating the children and teachers from the reception class at St Peter's and St Paul's school, but parents should be reassured that the risk of any child in the class picking up an infection would be low.

"Our action is purely precautionary.

"The risk of contracting meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia is small, even for people who have been in contact with someone with the infection. As many as one in 10 carry meningococcal bacteria in their throats, but only a few people become ill as a result."

But Dr Wiratunga says that people should all be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningococcal infection and that they should be prepared to take immediate action when it is suspected.

"Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia are serious diseases and their onset can be sudden. It is important to contact the doctor immediately a case is suspected," he added.

The two children were released from Alder Hey last week and pupils are due to return to the school today.