1,000 treated in meningitis alert

The Southern Health Board yesterday confirmed that more than 1,000 children have received emergency treatment after two students…

The Southern Health Board yesterday confirmed that more than 1,000 children have received emergency treatment after two students at a Co Cork school were taken to hospital with meningitis.

Pupils at Colaiste Choilm in Ballincollig were given antibiotics after a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl both fell ill in two separate outbreaks of the disease in the past three weeks.

The boy became ill at his home last week and was taken to Cork University Hospital, where his condition was yesterday described as comfortable.