Last updated 13:57, Thursday, 08 January 2009

TWO pupils from a Workington school have been admitted to hospital with a meningitis bug.

Letters have been sent out to parents at Stainburn School and Science College reassuring them that there is no cause for alarm and other members of the school are at no increased risk.

Headteacher Chris McGrath and Dr Sohail Ashraf, consultant in health protection for Cumbria & North Lancashire Health Protection Agency, have both signed the letter.

It says: “There have been two isolated cases of children who attend Stainburn School and Science College, who have been admitted to hospital with meningococcal Group B disease.

"This is the most common type of meningicoccal. We would like to reassure you that these are isolated cases and there is no cause for alarm.”

It goes on to say that friends and contacts at the school do not require antibiotics or vaccine at this time.

Meningococcal Group B disease is a bacteria which can cause septicaemia or meningitis.