Three Scottish scouts treated for meningitis after Japan trip

Swedish scout Erik Lunner being examined after three of his fellow troops contracted suspected meningitis.

Three Scouts from the Highlands have been receiving treatment for meningococcal disease after attending the 23rd World Scouts Jamboree.

A spokesman for HPS said a further case has been confirmed in Sweden, with two more possible cases being looked into. “It’s a young girl who is being treated here”, a spokeswoman for Stockholm’s Karolinska hospital, Mirjam Kontio, told AFP.

Almost 4,000 scouts from across Britain took part in the 12-day event in Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi City, in western Japan, which ended on Saturday.

Scouts from 161 countries registered to attend this year’s World Scout Jamboree, including a contingent from the Boy Scouts of America.

On Monday health authorities urged Swedes who went on the trip to get antibiotics to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease, after the three suspected cases emerged.

The Swedish health agency urged participants returning from the scout jamboree to seek preventive treatment as a precaution, even if they’re not feeling sick.

“We did not get any information about any kind of illness at the camp”.

Meningitis has been defined by the United States National Library of Science (USNLS) as “a bacterial infection of the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord that most commonly affects children and teenagers”.

Three related cases have also been reported in Scotland and several other European participants were reported to have displayed symptoms.