UPDATE: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake officials say football players safe despite Queensbury opponent's death

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District on Wednesday rescinded its recommendation that members of its varsity and junior varsity football teams take an antibiotic after learning a Queensbury football player did not die from a communicable disease.

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School football team played a scrimmage against Queensbury High School at the Saratoga County school on Saturday. When officials learned a 16-year-old Queensbury player had died Tuesday at Albany Medical Center, possibly from an infection, the district started considering preventative measures.

For much of Wednesday, the cause of the boy’s death was not known, but the Saratoga County Public Health Nursing Service informed BH-BL officials late in the day that the player did not die from a communicable disease. The state Health Department had informed the county nursing service.

This means BH-BL players do not have to take a dose of a strong antibiotic, as earlier recommended, said Christine Multer, a district spokeswoman. Multer removed a statement posted on the district website earlier in the day indicating that the antibiotic dose was being recommended for all junior varsity and varsity players.

Officials at Queensbury High School said junior lineman John Vasiliou died Tuesday afternoon, a day after being taken to Albany Medical Center, according to the Associated Press. Queensbury school officials say the cause of the infection was unknown, and Warren County health officials say they don’t know what type of infection killed the teen.

School officials say no decision has been made about whether to play Saturday’s season opener.