One dead and two ill after meningitis cases

A young person has died and two people are being treated after cases of meningitis in Reading.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) South East said close contacts of those affected were being offered antibiotics as a precaution.

It said information has been shared about the infection with students and parents at all affected schools but the risk to the wider public was low.

Rachel Mearkle, a consultant in health protection, said: "Students and staff will naturally be feeling worried...however meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread and large outbreaks as we saw in Kent recently are thankfully rare."

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