Woman teacher, 53, dies in Brescia area in suspected bacterial meningitis case

What happened

A 53-year-old woman teacher died in hospital in Montichiari, a town in the Brescia province of northern Italy, on Saturday, 31 October 2026. She worked at the San Giovanni Battista nursery and preschool in Vighizzolo, a small hamlet of Montichiari. She was of Serbian origin and had lived in Italy for many years. Her symptoms raised a suspicion of bacterial meningitis, a diagnosis that only an autopsy can confirm.

Her final hours

On Friday, 30 October, she said goodbye to the children and their parents and arranged to see them again the following Monday. That evening she began to feel unwell, with a high fever and a severe headache, and she went home. Within a few hours her condition worsened. On Saturday morning it deteriorated sharply, and she asked her in-laws for help, who then called the emergency services. She died after arriving at hospital, despite every attempt to save her.

Contact tracing and prophylaxis

The Ats di Brescia health authority carried out epidemiological investigations and identified about 180 people, children and adults, who had been in contact with the teacher. Prophylaxis with a specific drug began on Saturday evening, in line with national and regional guidelines. Lists of contacts were compiled with help from the school and the family, and those people were then sent to Brescia to receive the treatment. Health officials said no one identified so far has shown symptoms.

“No identified contact who has received prophylaxis has reported or shown symptoms linked to meningitis.”

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the three membranes around the brain and spinal cord, usually triggered by a bacterial or viral infection. Early signs can be nonspecific and include severe headache, fever, nausea and a stiff neck.

Investigation and school

Prosecutors opened a file linked to the death with no suspects and no alleged crime, while the autopsy is still pending. The prosecutor's office is headed by Francesco Prete. Mayor Marco Togni said the autopsy will establish the type of meningitis and the strain involved. The nursery school will reopen as usual on Monday, 2 November. The school also posted a message on its Facebook page remembering the teacher.

Reaction from the town

Mayor Marco Togni said he had known the woman and her family for many years, and that the family are friends of his. He described the teacher's effect on families in the area. He said that thousands of children had been looked after by her, and that they gave her the same affection in return.

“Thousands of children were cuddled and looked after in her arms, and they returned her affection.”

Togni said the teacher's family, including her adult son and her husband, were devastated and disbelieving. He added that the town could only stand together with them for now.