Fourth Young Person in Reading Treated for Meningitis B, UKHSA Confirms
A pupil at Westwood Farm Junior School in Reading is currently undergoing treatment for Meningitis B, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This recent development brings the total number of cases to four, all of which are connected to the same extended social circle.
Last week, Lewis Waters, a student at The Henley College in Oxfordshire, tragically died from the infection. Prior to the Westwood Farm case, two other instances were reported at Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre.
The UKHSA has stated that the Westwood Farm pupil is "recovering well". As a precautionary measure, close contacts associated with all four cases have been offered antibiotics. The agency has confirmed that all reported infections are Meningitis B (MenB).
While acknowledging the shared social network, the UKHSA has not provided further specific details regarding the nature of the link between the cases. They maintain that the risk to the broader public remains low and that these cases are distinct from incidents observed in Kent or Dorset.
Lewis Waters' family described him as "funny and kind hearted" in a Facebook tribute, expressing their devastation. His father, Sean Waters, noted that Lewis developed sepsis "within a few hours of feeling ill" and, despite fighting hard, could not be saved by the ICU team.
Meningococcal disease typically sees 300 to 400 diagnoses annually in England, primarily affecting infants, young children, teenagers, and young adults. The UKHSA advises young people to ensure their vaccinations, including the MenACWY vaccine offered to pupils in Years 9 and 10, are up to date, although this vaccine does not protect against all strains, such as MenB.
