More than 2,000 pupils at a school site where a girl died from meningitis this week are being offered antibiotics after a second suspected case of the disease.

A year nine boy from Bexhill High School in east Sussex is said to be "doing well" in hospital.

Francesca Ward died from the disease the day after her 16th birthday.

Health officials took the decision to offer antibiotics to the remaining pupils at the high school, and King Offa Primary School which shares the same site, to prevent any further cases.

Disease symptoms

Severe headache Stiff neck Fever Vomiting Drowsiness Discomfort from bright lights Red/purple rash or spots

Public health specialist Dr Peter Wilkinson said: "The decision to offer antibiotics is a precaution against any further cases developing.

"We hope parents whose children attend these schools will take up this offer."

It is not yet known which strain of meningitis the boy is suffering from, but it has been confirmed that Francesca died from meningococcal septicaemia after contracting the B strain of the disease.

The Bexhill and Rother Primary Care Trust said the second suspected case represented an outbreak of meningitis at the school site in Gunters' Lane, Bexhill.

Medical advice

Dr Wilkinson added: "It is important people remain vigilant about the symptoms of meningitis and seek medical advice if they are at all concerned."

There is not thought to be any link between the two cases, apart from both pupils attending the same school.

But Dr Angela Iverson, a public health doctor with the trust, admitted that two cases of meningococcal septicaemia at the same site would be "exceptionally rare".

Isolated cases

"We expect 12 cases a year of bacterial meningitis. These two cases would bring the total to 10," she said.

"They are almost always sporadic and isolated. We have not seen two cases together for many years."

Dr Iverson said it was not normal procedure to close a school following a second suspected case, but the school site would now be empty for a week due to the half-term holiday.