MAJOR investigations into the deaths of two children, believed to have died from meningitis-related infections, will be completed next month …while the case of a third child who died from the disease is being looked at.

IPSWICH: Major investigations into the deaths of two children, believed to have died from meningitis-related infections, will be completed next month …while the case of a third child who died from the disease is being looked at.

Three youngsters, Ellie Parsons, Rhianna Warner and Kyron Vince, died within three weeks of each other after it is believed they were struck by the deadly disease.

Both Ellie and Rhianna died at Ipswich Hospital so it has launched a SUDOC [sudden death of child] investigation. Kyron was transferred from Ipswich to Addenbrooke's Hospital where he died, and his case, along with the other two, will be assessed by the Child Death Overview Panel, under the county council's Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board.

Ellie, aged 11-months, of Felixstowe Road, died on December 14. Then on New Year's Eve, two-year-old toddler Rhianna, of Damselfly Road, died suddenly after suffering symptoms of meningitis and a day later, her playmate Kyron Vince, of Hawke Road, also died within a few hours of becoming ill.

A post mortem on Ellie's body revealed that the cause of death was meningococcal septicemia (meningococcal is a serious infection which can cause meningitis or septicemia).

Jan Rowsell, Ipswich Hospital spokesman said: “We are conducting two formal investigations led by a senior colleagues, who are independent. The rigorous process aims to leave no stone unturned. There is an expectation that everyone involved is interviewed and gives evidence. One of the major reasons is to be able to answer the families' questions. If there is anything identified that shows we could improve or any lessons to be learned, then there is an action plan.”

The investigations are expected to last up to 40 days.

A spokesman for Suffolk County council said: “Any child death in Suffolk is assessed by the panel and questioned whether it could be preventable.”

Do you know of anyone who has been suspected of having meningitis over the last few weeks? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.