'Devastated' family of teenager who died after meningitis outbreak pay tribute

The family of a teenager who died after contracting meningitis said they are "absolutely devastated".

Lewis Waters, a student at The Henley College in Oxfordshire, died earlier this week.

Meanwhile, two pupils from different schools in Reading are being treated for meningitis.

They attend Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

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In a tribute on Facebook, Lewis's father Sean said "words simply can't describe the heartbreak and upset we're going through".

He added: "Within a few hours of feeling a bit ill, he developed sepsis and was taken from us. He fought hard and was really taken care of by the ICU team, but they just couldn't save him. We are absolutely devastated."

Describing him as funny, sociable and kind-hearted, Sean continued: "He liked to include everyone and took great joy in winding me and Kate up.

"He also loved his sisters, friends and family dearly. Life won't be the same for many of us now that he's gone."

Close contacts of the cases have been offered antibiotics as a precaution, the UKHSA said.

Tests show it is not the same strain as meningitis B linked to a fatal outbreak in Kent in March.

Dr Rachel Mearkle, consultant in health protection, said: "We understand that many people will be affected by this sad news and would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family of this student.

"Students and staff will naturally be feeling worried about the likelihood of further cases; however, meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread and large outbreaks, as we saw in Kent recently, are thankfully rare.

"We are working closely with partners and have provided public health advice and precautionary antibiotic treatment to close contacts of the cases. Meningococcal disease does not spread easily and the risk to the wider public remains low."

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