Two-year-old Wirral boy dies from meningitis

Jun 9 2009 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy from Merseyside has died from meningitis, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed last night.

The toddler, who has not been named but attended the Pitter Patter Nursery, in Wallasey, died on Saturday after contracting meningococcal infection. The child’s family and close personal contacts are being treated with antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

Parents at the nursery were told about the death and given information on meningococcal infection and its symptoms.

But they were reassured it is safe for their children to continue to attend the premises, in Warren Drive.

The HPA said last night the boy’s death appeared to be a single isolated case, so no further action was necessary within the nursery.

It is understood the child was taken with symptoms to hospital, where he later died.

Dr Katy Elders, consultant in communicable disease control with the HPA’s Cheshire and Merseyside Health Protection Unit, said: “This is a tragedy for the child and for the child’s family, and our hearts go out to them.

“However, parents of children who attend the nursery should not be unduly concerned, although it is important for everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningococcal infection and be ready to take action whenever it is suspected.

“About one person in 10 carries the germ in their nose and throat without coming to any harm from it.

“It is only spread from one person to another by very close contact and usually by contact within the same family.”