A BURY headteacher has reassured parents against the possibility of an epidemic in his school after a young girl contracted meningitis. The 14-year-old girl, a Year 10 pupil at Bury CE High School, was diagnosed with the disease last Sunday and is understood to be in a stable condition at Booth Hall Children's Hospital. But Mr Phil Grady, who is in charge at the school, said that this was an isolated incident which left pupils unaffected on their return to Haslam Brow this week following the festive break.

Very poorly

He stressed that the case was unconnected with the school and said: "One of our pupils is being treated in hospital for meningitis. I understand she is very poorly.

"The disease has an incubation period of seven days but the school has been closed for two weeks over Christmas."

Mr Grady has taken advice from Bury and Rochdale Health Authority on the issue and the school has sent a letter to the parents of each pupil with information on measures already taken in respect of meningitis.

And he added: "The health authority are working with the girl's family and contacting people who have been in touch with her during the period of possible infection." It is thought that the girl, who lives in Heywood, socialised with schoolfriends at times during the party season.

Mr Grady was unable to say who these other pupils were but added: "It is not possible for the disease to have been passed on during school time. The incubation period fell within the holidays."

Hospitals are legally bound to notify Bury and Rochdale Health Authority when a patient is diagnosed with meningitis.

The Heywood teenager is understood to be the only sufferer with current Bury connections.

A health authority spokesperson said: "There are several types of meningitis and the patient has contracted meningococcal meningitis, which is the most dangerous.

"This is an isolated case and the authority has sent letters to parents reassuring them that all the necessary precautions have been taken.

"Anyone who has been in close contact with the patient has been treated with antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

"Pupils at the school are not at any increased risk."

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