Warning after meningitis cluster

Two babies and two pre-school children are recovering after a small cluster of meningitis in Cornwall.

The cases of Group B meningococcal meningitis have been identified in the Camelford area since December.

There is a family link between two of the cases, but it is not believed to be a severe strain of the bacterial disease which affects the brain.

The Health Protection Agency said there was no cause for alarm, but it has warned parents to remain vigilant.

Dr Brian Guttridge told BBC News: "This strain is quite common in the UK and the experience so far is that it's not particularly severe and no more dangerous than the other strains.

Muscle pain

"But having said that, meningitis is always a serious disease and needs to be taken very seriously."

Dr Guttridge said the Camelford cluster was unusual as there were typically about 35 cases of meningitis a year spread throughout the county.

"That's the reason for wanting to raise awareness," he said.

"It is a characteristic of the disease that it can cause these small clusters and therefore we like to alert people to the situation.

Early symptoms of meningitis can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and lethargy.

Bacterial meningitis is routinely treated with antibiotics.