The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is yet to determine the death of an 18-year-old who is believed to have died from leptospirosis.

Line minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete yesterday said Jone Tagilala’s cause of death would be determined once the blood test results were received.

“Yes, it was a suspected death. We are just waiting for the confirmation blood test to come through,” he said.

Jone died last Friday after a two-week battle, his mother Vasitia Leba said.

At their home in Paipai, Lautoka, Ms Leba told of how a visit to a community clinic and later to the Lautoka Hospital panned out when her son’s condition worsened.

She said her son, who was the deputy head boy of Andrah Sangam College, began feeling ill two weeks ago.

Because she had the same symptoms she thought it might have been the common cold.

However, Jone fainted on one of the days and that prompted them to take him to the community medical centre.

She claimed that he was administered ORS and pain relief. They also advised that Jone took a lot of fluids and if it worsened, he was to go to the hospital.

She said that weekend, Jone began to develop chest pains and he started spitting blood.

He was taken to the Lautoka Hospital.

His condition worsened she said, and was taken to the ICU.

She was told that he was having kidney and liver failure.

“They tried to resuscitate him so I waited and after 20 minutes they came back and told me he was no more.

“I went to check yesterday and they said he tested negative for dengue and leptospirosis.”

Ms Leba said her son was kind, intelligent and humble young man who would be missed by his peers and family members.

Jone will be laid to rest at the Tavakubu Cemetery this Friday.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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