*** Update – An important point has been raised in the comments. We do not know what strain of the virus caused this death. If it was group B, there is not yet a vaccine protecting against it, which would technically make this case not one of a “Vaccine Preventable Death”. ***
Age at death – 21 years
Cause of death – Meningitis
Vaccination status – Unknown
Summary – On a Friday night in October 2007, Saleem went out with his girlfriend and her family for drinks. The next day, he woke up feeling run down, and assuming he was simply suffering from a hangover told his girlfriend he was going to sleep it out. What neither knew at the time is that that was going to be the last time Saleem and his girlfriend would speak to each other. Somewhere, somehow he had contracted meningitis; it would take him within 24 hours. He was found dead on Sunday, October 14th 2007, in his apartment by his girlfriend who, worried that she couldn’t get in touch with him, went over to his flat to check on him. Cindy, Saleem’s sister, said the following:
Jodie had spoken to him on Saturday and he said he felt hungover and was going to sleep. But when he didn’t reply to her text messages she began to worry and went to see him at his halls. His flatmate let her in and they found Saleem dead in his bed.”"When she pulled back the covers, he had a rash on his body – a classic sign of meningococcalsepticaemia, which is the most dangerous form.
“Jodie and our whole family are absolutely devastated, especially because my older brother Kruger died of meningitis when he was 15.”
Saleem just thought he was hungover. He loved his bed and presumed he would wake up feeling better. That’s why students need to be extra vigilant and know the symptoms. It’s important they look out for each other too. “I always think about Saleem when students head back to university each term. We miss him terribly and want to make sure the message comes across loud and clear – early identification and prompt treatment can mean the difference between life and death.
Our hearts go out to Saleem’s loved ones. We are very sorry for your loss.
For information on the meningitis vaccine please click here.
Sources
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Do we know it was vaccine-preventable? In UK the commonest meningococcal strain is (and has for decades been) group B, for which there is not (yet) a licensed and effective vaccine.
There are vaccines against groups C, A, W135 & Y – the other groups that most commonly cause disease. Is he known to have had one of these?
Excellent question; I have not been able verify the strain in this case. I will put a note in the entry itself to clarify that.