Meningococcal death stirs call for vigilance
NZPA and Staff Reporters
Nelson: The death of a Nelson man from meningococcal disease has sparked calls from health officials for people with flu-like symptoms to be extra vigilant.
The warning comes as Otago health officials confirmed two cases of the disease in Dunedin and the first round of meningococcal B school-based vaccinations drew to a close.
Nelson medical officer of health Dr Ed Kidle said the 36-year-old man was admitted to Nelson Hospital’s intensive care unit on Tuesday morning and died overnight. It is understood he is the father of two children.
The death is the second from the disease in Nelson in five years.
Public Health South medical oficer of health Dr Marion Poore said the two people in Dunedin who contracted the disease last month were under the age of 20 and both had recovered fully.
The cases were not linked.
Test results had not yet come back to identify what strain of the disease the cases were, she said.
Six cases have been notified so far this year, compared with 18 for the whole of last year.
Dr Poore declined to give further details on the two cases, citing privacy reasons.
It is expected the first round of meningococcal B school-based vaccinations will be complete by tomorrow.
Of the more than 28,000 consent forms received by Public Health South, 93% agreed to having the vaccine through their school.
Public Health South campaign co-ordinator Peter Bassett said the school-based campaign was running smoothly and it was expected all the 26,000 children whose parents and caregivers had consented would be vaccinated with the first of their three doses by tomorrow.
The second round of the school-based campaign will start next term on July 25 and the third on August 26.
Otago Daily Times, July 7, 2005
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