STAFF at Great Universal Stores in Widnes are seething after management failed to tell them that two fellow workers have been hospitalised with meningitis.

One employee at the Royal Avenue retailers said staff had seen a management memo which said employees should be told the news "if they asked'.

"In other words, only if we found out about it," said the worker, who wished to remain anonymous.

The two employees, one male and one female, were hospitalised with viral meningitis last week.

The bacterial form of the condition is the one which can prove fatal, but GUS staff are still concerned.

"I know it's not the bacterial version, but it still hospitalised two people," said the worker

"We should have been made aware of it. There are pregnant women in this building and others who have young children living with them. If something happened, what would we do?

"Several people in the building feel that it was purposely hidden from us," said the staff member.

A GUS spokesperson confirmed that two Widnes staff had caught viral meningitis, but added that there was no need for alarm.

She said: "We are naturally very concerned by the recent illnesses of two of our customer services advisors and we wish them a speedy recovery.

"Given the potentially serious nature of the illness, we sought expert advice both from the hospital and from our own independent consultant.

"Both staff have a viral strain of meningitis, which is not highly contagious. We were assured that there was no need for concern and alarm.

"Staff have been kept informed throughout the situation."

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