Amy, 13, fights deadly illness

Amy Traynor, 13, of Greenstead, Colchester was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, on Friday after showing symptoms of meningococcal septicaemia.

Her classmates in Year 9 at Sir Charles Lucas School, Greenstead, were being asked not to panic as news of her illness spread.

The school's deputy headteacher Paul Butler said: "She seemed to be okay one day, and the next she was seriously ill. Doctors rushed her to Great Ormond Street straight away."

The teenager's family - who have been given antibiotics as a precaution - are at her bedside in intensive care.

A spokesperson for the hospital said today: "Amy is stable and is doing well at the moment."

Amy's mum Lynn is well known in the area as she works for Colchester Council as a community development worker for the Greenstead estate.

Now worried parents are being asked not to keep their children away from school - but to keep and eye out for the tell-tale signs of meningitis.

A special meeting was held at Sir Charles Lucas and all the pupils were told this is likely to be an isolated incident.

Mr Butler said: "Obviously we are trying to keep the children informed. They are very worried and Amy's friends are extremely upset.

"We are asking the children to think about her and not to panic."

North Essex Health Authority has sent letters to all the parents, listing the symptoms of meningitis and asking them to be aware of the risk.

But they are also being reassured it is extremely unlikely their sons and daughters will have contracted the disease.

A spokesperson for NEHA said: "Meningitis does not spread easily from person to person so there is unlikely to be another case in the school."

Anyone who still has concerns has been asked to contact their GP, or if they think they have spotted signs of the illness, to go straight to Accident and Emergency.

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