MEDICAL specialists at Glasgow's Ruchill Hospital are trying to

determine whether a virus from two pet monkeys might have killed a

four-year-old Castlemilk girl.

The girl was taken from her home to the Victoria Infirmary on Monday

night but was found to be dead on arrival. Her mother and father and a

second child are under observation in hospital and are undergoing blood

and other tests.

Experts from Ruchill, a specialist centre for communicable and

tropical diseases, have been called in and are studying the case.

It is understood the family kept two pet monkeys in their home in

Castlemilk. Doctors are looking into every possible cause of the girl's

sudden illness and death, including the chance that she may have caught

some form of disease from the monkeys.

It is thought to be unlikely, however, that the animals could be to

blame. It is rare for people, even those working with monkeys in

circuses and zoos, to contract diseases from them.

A spokesman for Greater Glasgow Health Board confirmed last night that

a four-year-old girl had died at the Victoria Infirmary on Monday night.