PARENTS are being reassured that the death of a young boy from meningitis is an isolated case.

Zak Hargreaves of Robin House Cottages, Briercliffe, died in Burnley General Hospital on Sunday from meningococcal meningitis. He would have been four in a month's time.

Consultant microbiologist Stephen Dealler said: "This is an isolated incident and not the start of an outbreak.

"We have taken a sample and grown it on again in an incubator and were able to identify it as meningococcal.

"The environmental health teams are so quick to respond that all the people who could possibly be at risk have already been treated.

"The team goes into action as soon as meningitis is suspected and they do such a good job they can often have identified and treated people before a sample comes back from a laboratory to confirm the disease.

"We are seeing cases of meningococcal meningitis all over the country and this winter's figures are pretty much the same as last year's.

"What is so sad about this strain of the disease is that we have antibiotics to treat it but often, by the time they get to hospital, it is too late.

"Even by the time the GP is called it can be too late. I wish we could find a way round this.

"Tragically, one in four people who contract the meningococcal strain die of the disease."

Zak's parents Roger and Donna were too upset to talk about what happened. His funeral is on Friday.

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