The Western Health Board in Derry confirmed yesterday that an eight-year-old local girl has died from what is believed to have been meningococcal meningitis. The girl died in Altnagelvin Hospital early yesterday morning, just hours after she was admitted. Following the death, health officers moved to reassure the parents of other children who may have been in contact with the child. The victim attended Bunscoil Cholmcille at Steelstown Road. Over the weekend she went swimming and on Sunday she attended a feis.
While the girl's immediate family have been given antibiotics, health officials stress antibiotics are not needed for children who were in contact with the girl. Letters are being sent to parents of children at the school outlining the signs and symptoms of meningitis.
Health board consultant Dr Richard Smithson said many children carried other bacteria in their throats and noses which helped to protect against the meningococcal bacteria. "If we give them antibiotics these can kill the protective bacteria, leaving the child more vulnerable to the meningococcal bacteria once they have finished the short course of antibiotics," he said.