A five-year-old boy whose family thought he had a stomach bug died just 24 hours after being diagnosed with meningitis. Jude Platts from Liverpool was born with a rare chromosome disorder which affected his ability to walk and speak. Scans revealed that Jude had encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcal) meningitis is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children over one month old and adults across all ages. The Platts family have launched a GoFundMe to create a bespoke resting place for Jude.

Source: Daily Mail February 25, 2026 21:17 UTC