Swiss student dies of Meningitis in Berlin

The woman from Basel was on an educational trip with her class on Saturday when she began suffering symptoms of the illness, a city health official said. She was treated in an intensive care unit of a Berlin hospital, but died.

The Berlin health department for Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg is working with Swiss health officials to trace who the woman may have come into contact with during her travels. They will institute prophylactic measures accordingly, the official said.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain‘s protective tissues and the spinal cord, usually caused by infection by bacteria and viruses. It can occur in localized outbreaks and first symptoms commonly include severe headache, neck stiffness and light sensitivity.