A lesscommonbuteven moresevere (oftenfatal) formofmeningococcaldisease is meningococcalsepticaemia, which is characterizedby a hemorrhagicrashandrapidcirculatorycollapse.
Daytime temperatures in Kosovo, which can exceed 32C (90F), increase the possibility Ms Becker could suffer imminent circulatorycollapse as she loses fluids which are not replaced through drinking.
If ingested, it causes nausea, vomiting and internal bleeding of the stomach and intestines, followed by failure of the liver, spleen and kidneys, and death by collapse of the circulatory system.