Diksmuide (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A 17-year-old girl from Diksmuide passed away because of meningitis induced by meningococcal bacteria. The girl returned to school from her school trip to London only one week before her death.
A 17-year-old girl from the secondary school ‘t Saam in Diksmuide died unexpectedly on Wednesday because of a meningitis infection from meningococcal bacteria. The teenager came back from a London school outing. Students who shared the room with the deceased student during their trip received antibiotic medication for preventative care. Public authorities have stated that people should not panic since the infection risks remain minimal.
“The investigation is still ongoing, but there is a strong suspicion,”
It sounds.
“Such infections do not occur very often,”
Says Joris Moonens of the Care and Health Agency. In West Flanders, only 1 other infection has been identified this year. In the whole of Flanders, only 45 cases will be known in 2024.
“A fatal outcome is very rare, but unfortunately, it does happen sometimes.”
“There is no reason to panic,”
Moonens added.
“Fortunately, the risk of infection is low.”
However, some preventive measures have been taken. The girl’s family members and the students who slept in her room in London are receiving antibiotic treatment.
“We have asked the rest of the classmates to be attentive to symptoms of illness.”
“We ask you to pay close attention to possible complaints in your son or daughter in the coming 4 weeks,”
Says the CLB.
“Possible symptoms are fever, stiff neck, reduced consciousness, red spots on the skin, headache and vomiting. Consult the GP as soon as possible if you have complaints.”
Everyone at the school was very shocked.
“We will do our utmost to accommodate the classmates and friends as best we can in the coming days,”
The management said.
“The CLB will provide extra support. The loss will leave a deep wound in our school community. Our thoughts now go out first and foremost to the family.”
What is the history of Meningitis cases in Flanders?
Bacterial meningococcal infection is a rare medical emergency. The Care and Health Agency reports 45 cases of meningitis in Flanders during 2024, and West Flanders has had only one reported case this year, according to Joris Moonens.
The condition only leads to fatal results in unusual cases but has been recorded. The pathogen spreads from person to person through intimate interactions, but the chances of transmission are minimal. The standard procedure for preventing outbreaks relies on treating close contacts with antibiotics in order to prevent their spread.
Meningitis causes patients to experience fever together with a stiff neck, reduced consciousness, red skin spots, headache, and vomiting. The Centre for Student Guidance (CLB) warns parents to watch for such symptoms and tells them to get medical help quickly.
