Three People Sick with Meningitis in Reading

May 14, 2026, 20:47
EuropeHealth

Introduction

Three young people in Reading have a serious illness called meningitis. One student died.

Main Body

Health workers found three cases of this illness. One person was a student at Henley College. This person died. This is the same illness from a group of cases in Kent in March. Doctors are giving medicine to people who were close to the sick students. A local doctor's office told students about the risk. The risk to other people is very low because the illness does not spread easily. Doctors say teenagers and young adults can get very sick. Look for a high fever, a bad headache, a stiff neck, and a red rash. You must go to the doctor quickly.

Conclusion

Health workers are watching the situation. They are giving medicine to people at risk, but most people are safe.

Learning

⚡ The "Body Check" List

When we talk about health, we use Adjective + Noun. This is the easiest way to describe a problem to a doctor.

From the text:

  • High →\rightarrow fever
  • Bad →\rightarrow headache
  • Stiff →\rightarrow neck
  • Red →\rightarrow rash

🛠️ How to use this pattern

Instead of saying "My neck is stiff," you can simply say "I have a stiff neck."

Try these common A2 pairs:

  • Sore →\rightarrow throat
  • Strong →\rightarrow pain
  • High →\rightarrow temperature

⚠️ Quick Rule

The Order: Opinion/Quality →\rightarrow The Body Part/Symptom

Correct: "A bad headache" Wrong: "A headache bad"

Vocabulary Learning

illness
A disease or sickness that makes a person unwell.
Example:She was diagnosed with a mild illness and stayed home from school.
medicine
A drug or treatment used to help a person feel better.
Example:The doctor gave him medicine to reduce his fever.
risk
A chance that something bad could happen.
Example:There is a small risk of catching the illness if you are close to someone sick.
fever
A high body temperature that often shows you are ill.
Example:A sudden fever can be a sign of a serious infection.
headache
Pain or discomfort in the head.
Example:She complained of a headache after the long flight.
rash
A red or irritated area on the skin that can be itchy.
Example:The rash appeared on his arm after he ate the new food.
doctor
A person who studies medicine and helps people stay healthy.
Example:The doctor examined the patient and gave a prescription.
sick
Feeling ill or having a disease.
Example:He stayed at home because he felt sick.
young
Having lived for a short time or being not old.
Example:The young students were excited about the field trip.
adult
A fully grown person who is not a child.
Example:The adult volunteers helped organize the charity event.