People around Athlone, Co Westmeath, have been asked to be vigilant for meningitis symptoms following the death of a two-year-old boy this week.
Twenty local children who were in close contact with the child at his creche and childminder's home were yesterday treated with preventive antibiotics by the Midland Health Board.
The boy died in Portiuncula hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, on Monday, hours after being admitted. A spokeswoman for the Midland Health Board said test results due today would establish from which strain of bacterial meningitis the toddler had died.
There is no vaccine available for meningococcal meningitis type B, the commonest type in Ireland which is responsible for 55 per cent of cases.
The spokeswoman said a vaccine is available for type C free of charge from GPs. "We're asking people to be vigilant and if they have any concerns to contact their family doctor," she added.