Two children aged 15 and five died from meningitis in southern Spain over the past week, it has emerged.
The first death occurred last Friday in Badajoz, Extremadura, which neighbours Andalucia.
The 15-year-old died due to meningoencephalitis (brain swelling) caused by reactivation of Meningitis Virus type 6, according to health authorities.
The General Directorate of Public Health explained that this type of meningitis does not require epidemiological surveillance nor the application of specific protocols.
They added that this type of disease is not subject to mandatory reporting, as established by the Ministry of Health.
Meningitis is a serious illness characterised by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
It affects approximately 2.5 million people and causes nearly 250,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In Huelva, Andalucia, health authorities yesterday reported the death of a five-year-old girl from Villablanca, due to a case of meningococcal sepsis.
It comes as concern is growing in the UK over the meningitis outbreak at the University of Kent.
There are already 27 detected cases (one of them in London), and two confirmed deaths.
Health authorities are calling it an ‘unprecedented’ outbreak in terms of its spread, but insist that the overall risk is ‘very low.’
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
