Meningitis spreads to fourth school

HEALTH TEAMS completed a mass vaccination of 1,000 more pupils and teachers yesterday after a meningitis outbreak at a fourth school in south Wales.

Doctors tackling the outbreak in the Pontypridd area, which has claimed three lives, urged parents to remain vigilant for symptoms during next week's half-term holiday.

A sixth-form pupil, Dewi Morgan, 17, was last night "critically ill" at East Glamorgan Hospital with meningococcal septicaemia. A classmate from Y Pant Comprehensive, Pontyclun, Alex Ransom, 16, was described as "stable". Doctors believe he may not have meningitis. Ann Clements, the head, said: "We fully share parents' concern but the education department and health authority have acted swiftly."

Three other schools in thearea were immunised earlier this week after the death of 15-year-old Gareth Gould, from Coedylan Comprehensive.

The Bro Taf Health Authority has now vaccinated 3,000 people in a bid to halt the infection, which has led to 13 cases.