Teenager's family 'heartbroken' by meningitis death

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Teenager's family 'heartbroken' by meningitis deathJust now Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleNathan BriantSouth of EnglandFamily photoLewis Waters died earlier this week from the infectionA teenage boy who died after contracting meningitis has been described as "a funny, kind hearted soul" by his family. Lewis Waters, a sixth-form pupil at The Henley College in Oxfordshire, died earlier this week from the infection. Posting a tribute on Facebook, his family said they were "devastated" and "words simply can't describe the heartbreak and upset we're going through".

Two pupils, one from Reading Blue Coat School and another from Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre in Reading, are also being treated for meningitis, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said. It announced on Thursday that it had identified a social network that connected Lewis and the other two young people. Close contacts linked to all three are being offered antibiotics as a precaution.

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The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.