A fourth case of meningococcal disease has been confirmed in Reading, involving a junior school pupil who is now recovering, health officials said. The child is part of a close‑knit friendship group that has seen three other infections, including the tragic death of Lewis Waters .

Fourth Reading pupil from Westwood Farm Junior School recovers

Dr Rachel Mearkle, consultant in helath protection at the UK Health Security Agency, confirmed today that the Westwood Farm Junior School student is making a steady recovery.. The child’s exact age was not disclosed, but the diagnosis adds to a cluster of cases linked by a shared social circle.

Earlier deaths and school cases highlight cluster in Reading

Last Tuesday, Lewis Waters, a sixth‑form student at The Henley College in Oxfordshire, died after contracting the disease, according to the report. Two additional pupils, one each from Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre , were treated for meningitis earlier this week, underscoring the spread within local schools.

UK Health Security Agency says broader risk remains low

Dr Mearkle stressed that the outbreak’s reach is limited, noting the cases are unrelated to separate incidents in Kent or Dorset. "The risk to the wider public remains low," she said, as authorities continue to monitor the situation.

Vaccination drive launched at University of Kent after local cases

In response to the cluster, a vaccination clinic was set up outside a sports hall at the University of Kent, where students queeued for the meningitis vaccine. the initiative reflects a precautionary approach to contain any further transmission.

Who is the missing link in the friendship network?

While three pupils have been identified, officials have not disclosed whether additional members of the friendship group have been screened, leaving a gap in the public understanding of the outbreak’s full scope.