By 3 News online staff
A 17-year-old girl who died of meningitis in Christchurch on Friday had a non-contagious form of the illness.
Britney Skeggs, a former Southland Girls’ High School student, died at 9:45pm on Friday after being admitted to Christchurch Hospital with a headache and vomiting, Fairfax reports.
Britney was the adopted daughter of Trudy Bruce, who described Britney as “our bright shining star”.
Ms Bruce says the teenager moved to Christchurch from Southland earlier this year in the hope of learning more about the city she originally came from. She enjoyed country music and was involved in church groups.
After being admitted to hospital on Thursday night, Ms Bruce says Britney deteriorated rapidly and that by the next morning there was little hope she would survive.
Meningitis comes in a number of forms – the most common contagious forms being meningococcal B or C. The Canterbury District Health Board says there are no reported cases of these at the moment.
Meningococcal C killed 13 people last year, and is the most deadly type of meningococcal disease.
Britney’s death follows the death earlier this month of a Wellington schoolgirl – 12-year-old Amanda Crook-Barker – who died from meningococcal disease just two hours after developing a rash.
Watch the report from Annabelle Tukia.
3 News