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06/04/2009
Meningitis Tragedy Victim Named
The eight-year-old Co Down girl who died of meningitis has been named.
Karla Smyth, a primary five pupil at St Colmcille's in Downpatrick, and who first fell ill on Wednesday - had been looking forward to singing in a musical.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she passed away at the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children on Thursday of last week.
As a precaution, fellow pupils at her primary School have been immunised against the infection.
A spokesperson for the Public Health Agency, Dr Philip Donaghy, said the risk to other people remained low and explained that Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Tragically, the victim sang on Tuesday night, just hours before taking ill at here parish First Confession, and on Thursday, was due to be on stage, singing at the Patrician Youth Club's production of Grease - and instead was dying in hospital.
Her school is now closed for the Easter holidays but pupils are to sing at their classmate's funeral tomorrow.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick at 11am on Tuesday.
Her local priest, Curate Father Patrick Devlin, speaking on behalf of Karla's parents, Kieron and Dolores, and her little sister Anna-Rose, who is aged four, said: "Karla was a little girl who was full of life."
(BMcC)
Karla Smyth, a primary five pupil at St Colmcille's in Downpatrick, and who first fell ill on Wednesday - had been looking forward to singing in a musical.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she passed away at the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children on Thursday of last week.
As a precaution, fellow pupils at her primary School have been immunised against the infection.
A spokesperson for the Public Health Agency, Dr Philip Donaghy, said the risk to other people remained low and explained that Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Tragically, the victim sang on Tuesday night, just hours before taking ill at here parish First Confession, and on Thursday, was due to be on stage, singing at the Patrician Youth Club's production of Grease - and instead was dying in hospital.
Her school is now closed for the Easter holidays but pupils are to sing at their classmate's funeral tomorrow.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick at 11am on Tuesday.
Her local priest, Curate Father Patrick Devlin, speaking on behalf of Karla's parents, Kieron and Dolores, and her little sister Anna-Rose, who is aged four, said: "Karla was a little girl who was full of life."
(BMcC)
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