The Health Department's system of reporting disease outbreaks has worked well in reporting an "epidemic'' of viral meningitis in the Island.

Last night Chief Medical Officer John Cann confirmed that Dr. Edward Shultz of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital had reported there was an increased number of people with the disease's symptoms.

Dr. Cann explained an epidemic is any increase -- even if it is just two people -- in the number of people with a disease.

Staffers within the Department of Health are awaiting results of a battery of tests conducted over the past two to three weeks.

Dr. Cann said: "We have begun an investigation into this. The hospital reported an increase in the number of suspicious cases of viral meningitis.

"We are still awaiting confirmation from the laboratory but there have been a number of confirmed cases,'' he added. "All have been viral meningitis rather than bacterial and several children and some adults have been affected.'' Dr. Cann explained it was also too early in the process to speculate whether all of the cases were related or had come from the same gathering point like a school.

But he did confirm viral meningitis is not passed through casual or passing contact but through prolonged exposure.

"An epidemic means that there is more than the normal number than we might see,'' Dr. Cann explained. "Technically if there were two more than the average that's an epidemic. Yes, we should be proud of the fact that the hospital's reporting system has worked.'' Meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane enclosing the brain and spinal cord.

Its symptoms include a high fever, stiff neck, lethargy and irritableness, and in some cases vomiting. They tend to appear three to seven days after exposure.

Good hygiene like regular washing of hands, particularly when preparing or eating food can prevent transmission of the virus.