Fear over mystery bug

A HALLAM school has had a meningococcal scare with one of its year 11 students.
An urgent notice was sent home to parents and carers of year 11 and 12 students at Eumemmerring Secondary College, Hallam campus, last Wednesday, saying there was a possible but yet to be confirmed report of meningococcal.
Eumemmerring Secondary College Hallam campus assistant principal John Lyall told the News on Tuesday he could not confirm whether the student had meningococcal. However, he maintained that the student had returned to the school that day, “fit and well.”
Mr Lyall said the school was made aware of the possible case of meningococcal on Tuesday 21 October.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) contacted the families of students who may have had direct contact with the virus, saying “there was a very small likelihood of other students being affected”.
The letters advised the school community to be aware of symptoms including severe headache, sore throat, stiff neck, aching joints, light sensitivity, rash, gastroenteritis and flu symptoms.
He said, to his knowledge, this was the first meningococcal scare at the campus.
A spokesman for the Department of Human Services said the suspected case was not meningococcal. However Mr Lyall said the parent of the student was waiting for an appointment with a specialist on 21 November to have the reports either confirmed or denied.