Another 1,000 vaccinated after meningitis detected in fourth Welsh school

Welsh health officials have completed the vaccination of another 1,000 children and teachers after a meningitis case was detected in a fourth school. This brings to 3,000 the number vaccinated this week following an outbreak which has resulted in 13 cases of the deadly disease.

Children and teachers in three other schools in the Pontypridd area were immunised earlier this week after the death of Gareth Gould (15). The latest school hit was Y Pant Comprehensive, Pontyclun, where a sixth-year student, Dewi Morgan (17), was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia. He is receiving treatment in East Glamorgan Hospital.

Doctors tackling the outbreak in the Pontypridd area, which has claimed three lives, urged parents to remain vigilant for symptoms among youngsters.

Dr Steve Monaghan, who is leading the outbreak team in south Wales, said yesterday there were no plans to extend the immunisation programme to every school in the area despite mounting pressure from anxious parents. "Widespread use of vaccinations would lead to lowered immunity and would in fact render people at higher risk."

The sixth-year student at Y Pant Comprehensive had no known contact with any of the other 13 cases.

Doctors were investigating another suspected case of meningococcal meningitis in the region last night after a 25-year-old man from Pontypridd was admitted to hospital.

Meningitis is always present in the general population and many people actually carry the bacteria which causes the disease without themselves being affected. Outbreaks can therefore occur at any time, although most cases arise at this time of the year when there are many respiratory infections about.

It does not spread like a flu but once identified those known to have been in close contact with a victim are immediately put on preventative antibiotics. Vaccines can also be given for some types of the disease.

The disease is readily controlled with antibiotics as long as it is diagnosed quickly. Meningitis may initially resemble a flu or heavy cold with symptoms including headache, vomiting, fever, aches and sore throat. Other symptoms include sensitivity to bright lights, neck stiffness, confusion or delirium and excessive drowsiness. A rash is another important symptom.