Boy, 14, dies days after catching rare infection as major warning issued
A vibrant 14-year-old boy has died just days after falling ill with a rare bacterial infection - triggering a renewed warning from medical professionals about the illness's speed and severity.
William Hand, from South Carolina, was an energetic, well-loved student who had just graduated from eighth grade at Hughes Academy of Science and Technology. But days later, the teenager's health deteriorated suddenly. On the morning of June 8, William woke up unwell, and within hours, he was gone. His father, Will Hand, wrote in a heartfelt post: "Everything snowballed and God called him home. This is how I will always choose to remember Will. Flowing hair, big smile and in sports attire. I will see you again, son."
Doctors later confirmed that William had contracted meningococcemia - a rare but aggressive bloodstream infection caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.
Once the infection sets in, it can overwhelm the body in a matter of hours. "The infection happens so quickly, and once it starts going, sometimes it is very hard to save the person who is infected with the bacteria," Dr. Anna-Kathryn Burch told Fox Carolina.
The disease, though uncommon, spreads through respiratory droplets or saliva, often passed by sharing items like drinks or utensils.
Early warning signs include a sudden fever, pounding headache, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and a rash that doesn't fade when pressed. "We call it a petechial rash because it looks like broken blood vessels underneath the skin," said Burch. "It's not a typical rash that you would get with, let's say, a viral infection. If you put your finger on it and press down really hard, the rash will stay there."
The Department of Public Health has recorded 12 cases of meningococcal disease in the state over the past year and a half, with four proving fatal. Still, health officials say the scattered cases do not suggest an outbreak. "DPH investigates all reported cases of Neisseria meningitidis, looking for possible links. In regards to the 12 cases spread across the state within 18 months, no links were found and this does not fit the definition of an outbreak," a DHEC spokesperson stated.
Vaccination remains the best form of protection, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
William is being remembered as someone who brought laughter and light to every moment. His obituary described him as "the highlight of many people's day-equal parts athlete, comedian, music lover, and loyal friend." It continued: "His loss leaves a void that can never be filled, but his joyful spirit, quick smile, and magnetic energy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him, even briefly.
"Will was known for his infectious smile, playful banter amongst friends, and unmatched gift for turning everyday moments into unforgettable memories. Whether it was walking to CVS or Moe's with his friends, or re-enacting WWE wrestling, he brought joy everywhere he went."
"His teammates, coaches, and friends knew him as the life of party-always ready with a story, usually a little embellished for effect, and always delivered with a grin."
His baseball team, Greenville Little League, honoured him as "more than just a great competitor—he was a loyal friend, devoted son and brother, and a true teammate in every sense. His spirit, smile, and love for the game touched so many of us, and he will be deeply missed."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
07-08-2025
- The Independent
New study ties 440 more deaths to California wildfires
New studies suggest recent wildfires in Los Angeles and Maui may have caused many more deaths than official counts indicate. A Finnish study published in an American Medical Association journal found 440 excess deaths in Los Angeles County during the January wildfires, attributing them to health conditions worsened by smoke and mental health issues. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has requested the county's Department of Public Health to thoroughly review the findings. Separate research on the 2023 Maui wildfire revealed indirect impacts, including lung damage, depression symptoms, and a 97 per cent increase in suicide and overdose deaths during the month of the fires. While the Maui study noted a broader increase in such deaths across Hawaiian counties, these elevated rates did not persist in subsequent months.
The Independent
07-08-2025
- The Independent
Hundreds more may have died in LA's devastating fires in January than first reported, study finds
The death toll from the devastating early January wildfires around Los Angeles may be more than 400 people greater than the official tally, according to a new study. The paper, published by Finnish researchers in an American Medical Association journal, looked at the difference between expected and observed deaths in Los Angeles County as the fires were burning and found 440 excess deaths. They attribute the excess deaths to health conditions made worse by wildfire smoke, as well as mental health issues and health interrupted by the blazes, among other factors. 'The findings from this study underscore the need to complement direct fatalities estimates with alternative methods to quantify the additional mortality burden of wildfires and of climate-related emergencies more broadly,' the authors wrote. 'They also highlight the need for improved mortality surveillance during and after wildfire emergencies.' The study got the attention local leaders, who are still rebuilding after the Palisades and Eatons fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures and were attributed directly to 31 deaths. L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the hard-hit Altadena area, said she had seen the study's findings with interest. 'This study's assertion that over 400 excess deaths are a result of our Los Angeles wildfires is concerning,' she told the local Daily Breeze newspaper. 'In response, I've asked our county's Department of Public Health to thoroughly review the findings and provide their input. It is critical that we understand the full scope of the wildfires' impacts.' Another group of recent studies looked at similar indirect impacts from the 2023 Maui wildfire. The Maui fire was directly blamed for more than 100 deaths. But it also left 1 in 5 with lung damage and as many as half with symptoms of depression, one set of new research found. The month of the fire saw 13 suicide and overdose deaths, translating to nearly double the normal suicide and overdose death rates. Jonathan Purtle of New York University was the lead author of one study, which calculated rates of suicide and overdose deaths in Maui and Hawaii's four other counties. That research team found a 97% increase in suicides and overdose death rates on Maui during the month of the wildfires. The total number of suicide and overdose deaths was 13 that month — most of them suicides. They also found a 46% increase in such deaths in all five counties, which may have been influenced by displaced Maui residents migrating to other islands, the authors said. The increases did not last: Rates fells in the following months, the researchers found.
Telegraph
02-08-2025
- Telegraph
This royal biography is clutching at straws
She points out that the late Queen's sister, who died in 2002 aged 72, had stunted growth, struggled to learn how to write and suffered mood swings as well as painful migraines. But isn't this yet another case of trying to medicalise everyday problems? Margaret had none of the more obvious symptoms of FAS, such as smooth lip philtrum, small eyes, and a flattened mid she was small, at 5 ft 1, but her mother was only an inch taller. FAS sufferers have difficulties with social skills, but the princess was the life and soul of any party. They also have difficulty with fine motor skills and yet Margaret was an accomplished pianist. Sure, she was impulsive and would 'blurt out the truth' – but the same can probably be said of most royals and aristocrats of her era! While the Queen Mother did enjoy 'a tipple' later in life, as attested by her official biographer William Shawcross, there is no evidence she was an alcoholic – least of all when she gave birth to her daughters in 1926 and 1930. Indeed, in a 1925 letter to her husband, cited by Secrest, she reveals that she has lost her appetite for wine in pregnancy, joking: 'It will be a tragedy if I never recover my drinking powers.' Despite enjoying gin and Dubonnet, wine, port and martinis, she lived to 101. Very heavy drinkers don't tend to become centenarians!
