It is believed the female pupil, who has not been named, may have contracted the disease before she left Grangemouth High School earlier in the year.

Rector Lyn Brown said: "We have spoken with NHS Forth Valley and offered them relevant information on our former pupil. We have also taken their expert opinion on public health matters.

"Staff and pupils are naturally concerned for the pupil in question and we hope for a full recovery as soon as possible."

Grangemouth Councillor Alistair McNeil. said: "We've have been kept informed and up to date on the matter since it occurred and hope the
youngster in question makes a full recovery."

According to NHS Forth Valley, the teenager contracted a form of meningococcal meningitis – the most common strain in the UK – and all the necessary steps have been taken to protect those who have been in close contact with the former sixth year pupil.

An NHS Forth Valley spokesman said: "Our public health team is taking appropriate measures in relation to the confirmation of a case of meningococcal meningitis from the Grangemouth area.

"Close contacts have been given appropriate advice and antibiotics."
Meningococcal meningitis is caused by three different strains of meningococcal bacteria, known as group A, B and C.

The more serious B strain, for which there is currently no vaccine, accounts for 60 per cent of British cases and kills 200 people a year.

Eileen McKiernan, chief executive of Meningitis Association Scotland, said: "It is a very common form of the disease and everyone carries the bacteria which causes it in their nose and throats.

''Students at schools are more inclined to catch it because they are moving around in large numbers in confined spaces.

"There is certainly no need to panic in this case and others as the health boards always take the relevant necessary steps to deal with the matter. If the disease is diagnosed early enough it can be easily treated with antibiotics."