Maltese youths who went to the World Youth Day in Poland are at a low risk of contracting meningitis even though an Italian teenager died from the disease.

The Maltese health authorities were notified through the international early warning response system of the 19-year-old’s death after attending the Catholic gathering in Krakow.

The young woman died in a Viennese hospital on her return from the event. Meningitis is contagious but a spokeswoman for the Health Ministry said the risk for Maltese youths was low since it had been an open air event.

“All necessary precautions have already been taken by the international public health authorities for the youths who were in close contact with the teenager,” the spokeswoman said.

She added that the public health authorities in Malta were monitoring the situation and were in communication with the Viennese health authorities.

The teenager, Susanna Rufi, fell ill on Sunday evening after arriving by coach at the youth hostel in Austria that sheltered a group of Italians on their way home from Poland. Fellow travellers were checked for symptoms of meningitis.

Hundreds of Maltese youths joined thousands of fellow Catholics from all over the world for the gathering, which was addressed by Pope Francis.

The event is organised every two or three years; the next one will be held in Panama in 2019.