A new study reported in the media suggests that ball pits in children's play areas may contribute to transmission of bacteria that are rare causes of meningitis.
Overall, researchers in the US identified 31 bacteria in the six ball pits they analysed.
Bacteria known as Enterococcus faecalis and Acinetobacter lwofii which are rare causes of meningitis and septicaemia were among those identified.
Linda Glennie, Director of Research at Meningitis Research Foundation said, “These kinds of bacteria are rare causes of meningitis in newborn babies in hospitals, people ill in hospital after surgery, or people with very weakened immune systems, so they are unlikely to be a major risk for healthy children in a situation like this. Hand-washing and general hygiene are sensible precautions to reduce transmission of these and other germs that could cause meningitis in newborns and vulnerable people.”
Check you know the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia.