'Meningitis death' sparks letters

Andrew Tapper was a keen Newcastle United football fan

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has written to reassure parents of pupils at an Oxfordshire school after a boy died from suspected meningitis.

Andrew Tapper, 11, a pupil at Banbury's North Oxfordshire Academy, died in hospital last Friday.

Thames Valley Health Protection Unit said only Andrew's close contacts had needed antibiotic treatment.

Friends have held a minute's silence at the town's bowling alley, where he played in the junior league.

In a statement the HPA said Dr Sam Ejide, a consultant in communicable disease control at the HPU, sent letters to parents reassuring them that "only very close household contacts need treatment".

GPs in the area have also been informed.

Anyone worried by a feverish illness should seek medical advice Health Protection Agency

The HPA said: "Meningococcal infection is very rare and almost always occurs as isolated cases.

"It can cause meningitis or septicaemia (blood poisoning). Meningitis can also be caused by other bacteria or viruses. Anyone worried by a feverish illness should seek medical advice."

Andrew, who was a keen Newcastle United football fan, died in the early hours of Friday.

Ruth Robinson, principal of the North Oxford Academy, said Andrew did not show the classic symptoms of meningitis.

She added: "This is a time when you really come together as a community to offer support to students and each other.

"He was a lovely young person, he was just beginning his life and it's a tragedy.

"He was a young man with a lovely sense of humour."