Pupils at different Reading schools treated for meningitis after student dies

Health & Fitness
15 May 2026 • 7:06 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Pupils at different Reading schools treated for meningitis after student dies

  • A student from Henley College in Oxfordshire has died from meningitis, with two other pupils from Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School also being treated for the illness.
  • The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that close contacts of the cases have been offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
  • Tests have shown that the current infection is not the same strain of meningitis B that caused a fatal outbreak in Kent earlier this year.
  • Dr Rachel Mearkle from UKHSA stated that meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread, and the risk to the wider public remains low.
  • Information on meningitis symptoms has been shared with parents and students at the affected schools, urging rapid medical attention if concerns arise.

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