Third meningitis case hits Wirral school

Nov 7 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A THIRD student is believed to have contracted meningitis in an outbreak at a leading grammar school in Wirral.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed last night there was “a third possible case of meningococcal meningitis”.

It is thought to be a 16-year-old girl, also a sixth former at Calday Grange Grammar School.

Already, two students from the school, a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy, are being treated at Arrowe Park Hospital for meningococcal disease – a trigger for one of the most serious strains of meningitis.

All 600 sixth-form pupils at Calday Grammar School, in West Kirby, were handed letters telling them to expect to receive a course of antibiotics when they arrived at school yesterday.

According to the HPA, the girl was admitted to Arrowe Park Hospital on Saturday morning but is not believed to be as seriously ill as the others.

The original two patients have confirmed meningococcal B infection. A HPA spokesman said: “They are continuing to improve in Arrowe Park.

“A team of doctors and nurses have, with excellent support from the school, made excellent progress in giving antibiotics to 600 sixth-formers and staff at the school.”

This was expected to be completed yesterday.

Parents are also being advised to keep a close eye on their teenage children to see if they develop any of the symptoms associated with meningitis.