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THE DEATH OF young girl from suspected meningitis in the Navan area has been called a “terrible tragedy” by her school principal.
The death of Kayla Carey, who was in senior infants at Scoil Mhuire in Navan, was confirmed yesterday by the HSE which said it was due to suspected meningococcal meningitis.
A second child from the same school who was also hospitalised with suspected meningitis was said to be in a critical condition.
The HSE has said that its medical experts are working closely with the school and are advising and supporting parents, guardians and teachers.
The school’s principal Colm Devlin said yesterday that the death of Kayla Carey will affect the entire community.
“This is a terrible tragedy for her family, our school and the whole community. We are deeply saddened by this turn of events. Our sympathy and thoughts are with Kayla’s family and friends,” the principal said.
Offers of support have been pouring in and are greatly appreciated. Our school have implemented our critical incident management plan. Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) will be with us supporting and advising the teachers in their efforts to assist our students at this time.
Devlin also said that the school is open to parents to offer them advice and that teachers will help students through the tragic event.
In a statement yesterday, the HSE said that it is “obviously very much aware of the anxiety that is being experienced locally” but that the spread of meningococcal meningitis from person to person “is very unusual”.
Signs and symptoms of the condition include a high fever, drowsiness, a rash, discomfort from bright light and a stiff neck.
The HSE is advising parents in the area to seek a GP if their child is exhibiting even minor symptoms but not to attend just for a check-up.
Further information including data on the occurrence of meningitis and symptoms are available on the HSE’s website.
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R.I.P. little one, a tragedy, look out for all the above listed symptoms but I would also add your child’s cry may be different from normal, this is what alerted me to the fact that all was not right with my own son when he was diagnosed with this awful illness as a baby, above all VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN!….
@Kate Flaherty: With all due respect to, yelling at people and chastising them isn’t doing to make people any less scared of vaccines, no matter how wrong or right they may be.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: no harm in a gentle reminder every now and then, if it hadn’t been for my own GP the quick actions of Crumlin hospital my own gut and the fact that he had received the HIB my now 16 year old boy might not be around to tell the tale, if my story encourages just one person to vaccinate then I will keep telling it…..
@Neal Ireland Hello.: with all due respect to you using capital letters has nothing to do with shouting . This assumption by you is a totally useless comment ,The person was rightly emphasizing the need to vaccinate against this illness and is perfectly in order to do same . I would respectfully ask unless you are a medical Doctor with something useful to say that you would refrain from such comments They will do this family no good what so ever .Thank you
@Mike Daly: very well said, now more than ever we need to encourage herd immunity, if not we will see more of these illnesses rearing their ugly heads once again, how any parent can look into their child’s eyes knowing they have not protected them in every possible way from an illness that could leave them permanently impaired or dead is beyond me and putting others at risk should not be an option, the days of throwing them all in together with a dose of the measles hoping for the best is well and truly over!…
@Kate Flaherty: My eldest got meningococcal septicemia the week of his first birthday at that time 1986 there was no vaccine and only for my GP and the fantastic and dedicated staff in the mercy in Cork he would not be here today. It is a horrendous disease, it’s very very difficult to watch your baby lying comatose and spiking scarily high temperatures and not knowing if they will survive. My lad was one of the extremely lucky ones. I don’t believe you were shouting but rather stating emphatically that this is one vaccine that should be given to your kids, if a vaccine had been available I would most certainly have made sure he was vaccinated. My heart goes out to her parents on such a sad loss. RIP.
@molly coddled: All we can do is every now and then take the minute or two it takes to remind people the importance of vaccinations and hope that even one person makes that decision to change their mind and vaccinate, we’re 2 of the lucky ones @molly coddled we will have our sons around to drive us mad into old age, thanks for sharing, enjoy your evening!…
@Kate Flaherty: Meningitis B vaccination only became available in Ireland in 2013 and only rolled out as a national program in 2016 – aimed at infants.
https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/pcischedule/vpds/menb/
Alas too late for these kids.
I was diagnosed with it when I was 22. Doctor thought it was the flu until I told him I couldn’t move my thumb. Rash didn’t appear til later, stiff joints also a sign. People should know all the signs and get vaccinated. My heart goes out to the poor family. I was one of the lucky ones and I’ll never forget that.
Every parents worse nightmare is hearing that meningitis is doing its rounds and god love her at such a small age too, heart breaking news for her parents and the other poor child too.
It’s horrendous it costs so much to vaccinate against men B. It’s entirely unfair. But I would implore all parents to try and save to get it if you can. Young children and young adults are particularly susceptible to it. It’s a vile disease. Rip kayla x
I am going to get the Jesuits to offer up a mass for the repose of her soul and ring the bell…..suaimhneas siorai
Such a tragedy. My thoughts are with both parents.
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