A five-year-old girl from Longford town was seriously ill with suspected meningitis at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin last night.
Symptoms of the disease were noted by her parents early yesterday. They rushed her to the local casualty department where she was given emergency treatment. She was later taken to the Longford/Westmeath General Hospital before being transferred to Dublin.
A spokeswoman for the Midland Health Board said it was an isolated case and the girl had been in perfect health up to 24 hours before her admission to hospital. Initially, she was diagnosed as having meningococcal septicaemia but that has not yet been confirmed.
The health board has identified those who were in close contact with her over the past 48 hours and doctors have administered preventive antibiotics. Those not considered to be close contacts have been given information on the relevant symptoms.
The only other case of meningitis in Co Longford this year was reported in January. Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children declined to comment last night on the girl's condition at the request of her parents.
