Indian-origin student dies of rare virus in UK

LONDON: A 20-year-old Indian-origin in the UK pharmacology student has died suddenly after getting infected by a rare Meningitis virus despite displaying none of the visible symptoms of the disease, according to a media report.

Paawan Purba was due to start the second year of her degree at the University of East London this month but died in hospital on August 27, less than 48 hours after falling ill.

"The sadness is beyond belief. I keep looking at the door thinking my beautiful, bubbly daughter will come home and we will all be together again," Purba's father Baldev Purba was quoted as saying by 'Evening Standard'.

He is now spearheading a campaign to raise awareness around the Men W strain of Meningitis, which is on the rise in England.

A total of 160 cases have been reported so far this year, up from 134 over the same period last year.

"Our daughter is gone but if we can help raise awareness of what needs to be done to save others than maybe we can prevent this happening to another family," he said.

Purba had displayed no visible rash, a common symptom of the disease, hence her general practitioner (GP) diagnosed her with a flu-like virus.

She had missed the Men ACWY vaccine, which offers protection against four types of meningitis and has been offered to secondary school pupils and students only since last year.

Her London-based family is now calling on the UK health department to do more to raise awareness of the disease at universities and to get all students vaccinated.

Her friends and family have already raised more than 7,000 pounds for the UK's Meningitis Research Foundation.