PARENTS have been alerted after an A-Level student contracted suspected meningitis. The 17-year-old, from Formby, was last night receiving antibiotic treatment to combat the potentially fatal blood and brain disease. The teenager, who has not been named, was admitted to Ormskirk Hospital after complaining of feeling unwell at home during the evening, and his immediate family were treated with antibiotics as a precaution. Letters have been sent out to inform parents of the situation at the teenager's school, Range High, and nearby Formby High, where he took some supplementary classes. Last night Mo Millar, headteacher at Range High, said the thoughts of staff and pupils were with the student and his family. It is believed he may have contracted the common strain B form of meningococcal disease, which can develop to cause meningitis, or septicaemia. The victim's relatives were yesterday still awaiting the results of medical tests to find out which strain of the disease the pupil had contracted, after he spent the weekend in hospital. Mo Millar said: "Everyone at the school is relieved that he seems to be responding to the treatment and appears to be making good progress. "Health experts have assured the school that there is no increased risk to pupils and they should continue coming to school as normal. "We have written to parents to make them aware of the situation and pass on general information about meningococcal disease." A spokesman for Southport and Formby Primary Care Trust, said: "We can confirm that a 17-year-old boy was admitted to hospital last week with suspected meningococcal disease. "He is responding well to treatment and making a good recovery. "The boy's family and close personal contacts have been treated with antibiotics as a precautionary measure. "No pupils are considered to be at risk and they should continue attending school as normal." Dr Evdokia Dardamissis, consultant in health protection for the Health Protection Agency, said: "The risk of contracting meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia is very small, even if you have been in contact with someone who has developed the infection. "As many as one in ten people carry the meningococcal bacteria in their throats but very few become ill as a result. "Parents can rest assured that it is completely safe for their children to continue attending school." deborahjames@dailypost.co.uk | 
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