Ryan O'Connell-Cairns (14), a year 10 pupil at Cromwell College, died on Monday evening after apparently contracting the disease.
The Cromwell Medical Centre was busy on Tuesday and Wednesday fielding inquiries from concerned parents, practice nurse team leader Susan Dickie said.
"We had lots of calls . . . from concerned parents just wanting some reassurance about their children.
We were in contact with Public Health South and if any parents were still concerned about their children's health after talking to us, we urged them to bring them in for a check up."
Otago-Southland medical officer of health, Dr John Holmes, said young people aged from 6 months to 20 years were offered immunisation against meningococcal disease during a nationwide campaign which began in August 2005.
The campaign was aimed at preventing an outbreak of one strain of the disease and the vaccine offered protection against that strain of the disease only.
Although the incidence of meningococcal disease had declined as a result of the immunisation project, at any time there might be several strains of the disease doing the rounds, he said.
"Let's not forget that the vaccine was focused on one particular strain of meningococcal disease, however; and we may never know what particular strain this boy [Ryan O'Connell-Cairns] had," Dr Holmes said.
As with other illnesses such as influenza, there was a higher incidence of meningococcal disease in winter.
"We want people to be careful not to confuse the symptoms of influenza with this. Both have similar early symptoms, so you need to be alert and if someone gets sicker rapidly, they should see a doctor immediately."
The signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease include feeling and looking really unwell, a fever, headache, nausea and stiff neck, sensitivity to bright light, and a blotchy skin rash.
The disease can be transmitted only by close personal contact, allowing bacteria to pass from the nose and throat of one person to another.
The incubation period for meningococcal disease is up to 10 days.
