A PRIMARY school pupil, struck down with meningitis, is recovering in hospital. The young girl who attends Plodder Lane County Primary School, Farnworth, infants department, is being treated in the Royal Bolton Hospital where she was admitted on Monday. Medics say the sick child, who has not been named, is making a good recovery. The girl's headteacher, William Brown, yesterday sent letters home to parents telling of her illness. Mr Brown was made aware of the case at 1.15pm yesterday, following a conversation with public health consultant Dr Robert Aston. Health experts have also confirmed that members of the girl's family have been given antibiotics as a standard precautionary measure.

Mr Brown told the BEN: "All I can say is that there's been a reported case of meningococcal meningitis at my school and that the child concerned is making a recovery as far as I'm aware. "We wish her well and want to stress that my staff and I will remain extra vigilant to watch for any signs or symptoms in children. We will be doing everything we possibly can do in the school to protect From Page 1 all the children." One worried mum, whose son returned to Plodder Lane Primary after successfully fighting off leukaemia in 1994, says she has decided to keep her child off school for the rest of the week.

Annette Jackson, of George Street, Farnworth, said: "Obviously it is worrying to hear what has happened. I have decided to keep my son off for the rest of the week because I just do not know how it could affect him."

Special leaflets were sent out with Mr Brown's letter to parents, detailing the symptoms of meningitis.

Dr Aston stressed that there was no increased risk to staff pupils and parents at the Plodder Lane school in Farnworth.

He added: "I'm glad to say that the child is doing very well and I want to reassure the public that there is no increased risk."

"The bug that causes this is with us all the time. It's not like chicken pox which can go around like wildfire. It is simply that this poor child was more susceptible to it.

"I strongly recommend that all parents learn about meningitis, and not just when there's a case like this. People should make sure they are informed.

"And Bolton mums and dads should go with their instinct. If they believe their child is seriously ill, then they should act as necessary."

The latest case comes just a month after another Farnworth tot, Hannah Gregory, fought off the deadly disease.

The two-year-old's relieved parents, Laura Wysocki and Ian Gregory, told the BEN how both their daughters - Hannah and her older sister Natasha - had ended up in the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Luckily Natasha proved not to have contracted meningitis and her young sister amazed doctors with her speedy recovery. Both were allowed back to the family's home on Highfield Road last month.

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