Two children have died at a Liverpool primary school that is dealing with an outbreak of a stomach bug.
The headteacher of Millstead Primary School, based in Everton, said the entire school community is “devastated” by the deaths of two of the school’s younger children, adding that both pupils “filled their classes with joy”. The two kids are understood to have been aged five and six.
Millstead Primary is currently dealing with an outbreak of cases of an infection called giardiasis that is being managed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The UKHSA said the causes of the deaths of the two children have not been confirmed – and stressed they are “unlikely to be due to giardia”.
Giardiasis is an infection of the digestive system caused by tiny parasites known as giardia lamblia. The infection can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps, flatulence and bloating, but it is generally not a serious risk to health and can be treated easily with antibiotics.
A spokesperson for the UKHSA said: “UK Health Security Agency are aware of the sad deaths of two children who attend Millstead Primary School and our thoughts are with the family, friends and school community. The deaths are unlikely to be due to giardia. Giardia usually causes a self-limiting gastrointestinal illness which can spread easily in households and school settings.”