Teen student Lewis Waters dies after contracting meningitis: First warning signs to watch for

Apart from hantavirus, there’s another outbreak that’s hitting hard in the United Kingdom: it’s the meningitis outbreak. A teen student, named Lewis Waters, has already been a victim of the meningitis outbreak.

The death of Lewis Waters, a teenager at The Henley College in Oxfordshire, has hit his school hard and made everyone in the UK worry about how quickly meningitis and related infections can spread among young people.

Lewis Waters’ death: What happened?

Per The Guardian, Lewis became seriously ill with what’s believed to be meningococcal disease, a form of bacterial meningitis that can escalate terrifyingly fast. After his passing, health officials tracked his contacts (students, staff, friends) and offered some precautionary antibiotics, trying to stop the bacteria from spreading.At least one other case in the area involved MenB, which is a nasty strain currently circulating in the UK.

Meningitis outbreak: Why is this happening now?

This outbreak comes just weeks after another bad cluster in Kent, which infected students and led to further deaths. Experts say high-contact environments (think schools, dorms, parties, bars) are perfect for meningococcal bacteria to spread.The bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, infect the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (that’s meningitis).

It sometimes hits the bloodstream, causing septicaemia (blood poisoning). Both can become fatal in hours if not treated.That’s what makes meningitis so dangerous: it moves quickly.Doctors say someone can look fine in the morning, then deteriorate rapidly by evening. So recognizing early symptoms is crucial.

What are the warning signs?

It starts off a bit like the flu: fever, severe headache, tiredness, vomiting, muscle pain, cold hands and feet.

As things get worse, watch for neck stiffness, confusion, drowsiness, trouble waking, sensitivity to bright light, fast breathing, seizures, and severe limb pain.A rash that doesn’t fade under a glass is an important sign, but it doesn’t always show up, or not right away. Doctors say don’t wait for a rash. If things get worse or feel really unusual, don’t delay.Kids, teens, and young adults are more vulnerable because the bacteria spread easily through close contact: coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing drinks, cigarettes, vapes, utensils, and water bottles.

The bacteria sometimes live harmlessly in your nose or throat, but if they get into your bloodstream, trouble can happen fast.As for the university and college students, they’re at a higher risk, simply because they’re so often together.

What’s next?

In Kent’s outbreak, crowded nightlife and student events seemed to fuel transmission. Thousands sought antibiotics and vaccines after infections popped up at universities and colleges there.Lewis’s death is sparking more conversation about meningitis awareness and vaccination.The UK offers the MenACWY vaccine to teens and students, covering several strains. The MenB vaccine is mainly part of the childhood schedule since 2015, so some older teens haven’t gotten it unless they paid privately.After the outbreaks, doctors and campaigners want MenB vaccination for more teens and students, not just little kids.As parents get worried, many pharmacies are seeing more requests for MenB vaccines.Authorities keep saying the public risk is low, and contacts are tracked and offered antibiotics if needed. However, doctors warn that meningitis is only treatable if you catch it early.Time matters so much with meningitis. Recognizing those first signs can save lives.