'My son boarded a flight home with a headache - but four hou

College student dies after developing meningococcal disease symptoms during flight

A 21-year-old college student died within hours of showing early symptoms of meningococcal B disease, a rare but aggressive bacterial infection. Meningococcal B spreads quickly and can be fatal even when symptoms seem mild at first, like a simple headache. Know the warning signs including sudden fever, stiff neck, and confusion, and seek immediate medical care if they appear.