Precautions at Attard school after suspected meningitis alert

Two suspected cases of meningitis were detected at a private primary school in Attard earlier this week.

As is routine when reports of a contagious disease are filed, all the necessary measures were taken by the health authorities as a precaution to prevent the spread of the disease.

Charmaine Gauci, head of the Disease Surveillance Unit within the Health Department, said the situation was under control and the two children were in a stable condition.

The students suspected of contracting meningococcal meningitis are in one of the two Year 1 classes. There are 43 children aged between five and six at the school.

Meningococcal meningitis is a brain and blood poisoning disease, spread when people are in close contact.

After the Health Department was informed about the suspected cases, the unit identified children and others who have been in close prolonged contact with the pupils in question. They were administered antibiotics.

The parents of the schoolchildren were also called for a meeting at the school where they were briefed about the disease and the preventive treatment being given.

Dr Gauci, who met the school administration, explained that the action was taken within the framework of a set procedure and policy guidelines by the Disease Surveillance Unit when meningitis cases are suspected or detected.

She said the suspected meningitis cases at the Attard school were until yesterday still not confirmed.

When contacted, the school head said most of the students were attending classes normally but there were some parents who had not yet allowed their children to return to school.

Meningococcal meningitis is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to flu.

In Malta, the worst period for the disease is January to February. In February 1998, 28 cases of meningitis had been reported for the preceding 18 months, six resulting in death.

The incidence of meningitis in Malta had increased dramatically in a matter of 10 years from 1990, when there were two cases of infection, to 2000, when the number shot up to 32.

According to the Disease Surveillance Unit, there were 12 cases in 2004 and 10 in 2005.

The Education Division closely monitored the situation.