Travis Mitsuda, as he appeared in a 2002 baseball program Photo courtesy University of Hawai'i

Family members today identified the young man as Travis Mitsuda, a former standout baseball catcher at Iolani School, where he graduated in 2001. He was also a bullpen catcher for the UH Rainbows in 2002.

He died March 25 at home as friends tried to get him to a doctor. Mitsuda’s funeral was Saturday.

"He was a great kid, a good friend to many," said his father, Dan Mitsuda. "It’s tough. But his friends and parents of friends have been real supportive. You never expect to lose a son."

The health department may know the cause of death by the end of the week, after tests are finished at its Pearl City lab. Dan Mitsuda said the family was told the infection was in his son’s lungs.

Dr. Lisa Hendrickson of the health department’s Disease and Outbreak Control Division said antibiotics have been given to 90 people who came in contact with Mitsuda in the days leading up to his death.

"There are suspicions that there is something that could be infectious and contagious and fatal," she said. "We are jumping the gun to be on the safe side and cautious. There has been no secondary infection. That was our concern. But it appears that this was an isolated case."

Travis Mitsuda was a junior at the university and worked for the A-Plus program at Manoa School.

But because Mitsuda had not been to the program for two weeks before his death, health officials feel none of the students was infected, Hendrickson said.

"We believe the school is totally safe," Hendrickson said. "He had not been there recently."

Dan Mitsuda saw his son at his Kaimuki home the day before he died. His son’s three roommates have not become ill, but Dan Mitsuda remembers Travis coughing.

"I told him he should see a doctor," Dan Mitsuda said. "The response was 'I’m OK, no problem.’ I just wish I had insisted he go."