Meningitis warning after death of boy, 16

David Lewis, 16, a keen rugby player, fell ill on Christmas Day but died on Boxing Day, leaving his family devastated.

He had been innoculated against the common C strain but fell victim to the more virulent B strain. The student's death prompted a warning from health chiefs, telling parents to be aware of the tell-tale signs of the disease.

David's family, of South Shields, South Tyneside, were yesterday too upset to speak about his death.

But a spokesman for the town's Westoe Rugby Club, where he was captain of the under-17s team, said his teammates were distraught.

The spokesman said: "David was liked by everyone who knew him and respected by all the players at the club.

"He had been captain for the past four years as he progressed through each age group. Everyone at the club and all his team-mates are absolutely devastated by this, our thoughts are with his family."

Health chief Dr Bashir Malik warned that vaccination against one strain of the illness does not protect against another. He said: "David had been given a jab against meningitis C but contracted the B strain on Christmas Day afternoon.

"There is no vaccination against type B and he unfortunately died in the early hours of Boxing Day morning. If anyone suspects they have meningitis, they should go to their GP immediately, even if it turns out to be a bad cold."

Dr Malik, consultant in communicable diseases at Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority, added that David's rugby team-mates need not be concerned.

David is the second meningitis victim to die in South Shields within a month.

Six-month-old Shaunna Louise Wallace, who lived in the town, died from meningococcal septicaemia at the beginning of the month, within 24 hours of contracting the bug l A Hartlepool schoolboy is in hospital battling meningitis. Carl Robson, 11, a pupil at Brierton School and who lives in Owton Manor, was yesterday described as comfortable but stable in Hartlepool General Hospital