Four in hospital over meningitis scare

Four people remain in hospital today after an outbreak of meningitis in Co Westmeath at the weekend.

Four people remain in hospital today after an outbreak of meningitis in Co Westmeath at the weekend.

A man in his 50s, is being treated for the more serious bacterial strain of the disease, while four people, aged 13 to 17, are suffering from the contagious, but usually less serious, bacterial meningitis.

Six people were admitted to Longford-Westmeath General Hospital on Saturday but one has since been released while another was found not to be suffering from the disease.

"There is no cause for public concern," a spokeswoman for the Midland Health Board.