PARENTS in Crewe are being urged not to panic after two cases of meningitis were discovered in the same street.

The cases involved two young children who live in the same street on the Leighton Park estate and who fell ill within 24 hours of each other on Friday.

The link between the two cases was spotted by doctors at Leighton Hospital who immediately informed South Cheshire Health Authority.

Both children, aged nine years old and four months old, are in hospital and were doing well on Tuesday.

The younger boy had been in a critical condition and was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool but he was due back at Leighton on Tuesday.

A joint incident team was set up with environmental health officers from the borough council, public health staff from South Cheshire Health Authority and Leighton Hospital.

Their job is to find out whether the two cases linked and to minimise the risk of further cases occurring.

Antibiotics have been given to people who had close links or contact with the cases as a precautionary measure but not given widely to people living in the area.

On Saturday afternoon information leaflets were hand delivered to every household on the estate and the Leighton Centre was used as an information and advice centre with health advisors on hand.

Dr Paul Hunter, consultant in communicable disease control for South Cheshire said: "Linked cases in the community like this are very rare. People should not panic - the risk of further cases is very low indeed and everything is being done to reduce the risk even further.

"Nevertheless any parent who thinks their child might be ill should contact their doctor straight away."

In the Crewe and Nantwich area there have been eight cases so far this year compared to seven during the same period last year.

Symptoms of meningicoccal infection are:

- High temperature, severe headache, vomiting

- Dislike of bright lights

- Stiff nek

- High-pitched cry

- A purplish rash which does not disappear when pressed with a glass

Coughing, sneezing and kissing spread the germs but they do not live for more than a few seconds outside the body and are not easily passed from one person to another.

- If you are worried, the National Meningitis Trust has a 24 hour helpline on 01345 538118 or you can contact the Meningitis Research Foundation on 01454 413344.

More information is also available on our Infoconnect line. Ring 0990 446644 and when asked key in 8219.

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