Army recruits given antibiotics after meningococcal death

3.00pm

More than 170 army recruits and a handful of regular staff were given a second dose of antibiotics today as the grieving continued for a teenage recruit who died in a suspected outbreak of meningococcal disease at the Waiouru Military Camp in the central North Island.

The recruit was buried yesterday as a second recruit also suspected to have the disease lay critically ill in intensive care at Palmerston North Hospital.

The army has refused to name the two recruits.

Army spokesman Captain Murray Brown said no other cases of the disease had been notified overnight.

It is understood there is no vaccine for the strain of the disease contracted by the two recruits

However, all recruits in the intake had begun a course of treatment and were due to get their second dose of antibiotics today.

"There is not much more to say. They were issued with antibiotics last night and they take a second lot of two pills this morning, tonight and tomorrow morning," Capt Brown said.

"This the entire intake including a few staff - probably 180 people," he said.

The dead youth and his sick companion were both believed to be 18. They were part of an intake of 174 which began their basic army training in April.

Wanganui Medical Officer of Health Patrick O'Connor said that at first antibiotics were given to 14 of the dead recruit's closest associates. But it was then thought prudent to give them to the entire intake.

The recruit reported to the camp's hospital on Monday but his condition deteriorated rapidly and he died in the hospital on Tuesday.

The second recruit was taken to Palmerston North on Thursday morning and his condition also deteriorated rapidly, the army said.

The intake was vaccinated against meningococcal strains A and C on arrival at the camp.

But doctors believe that the recruits contracted strain B for which there is no vaccine available.

Strain B was responsible for about 90 per cent of cases in New Zealand.

"However, meningococcal cases usually come one at a time so we're already facing an unusual situation in that we've had two so close together," Dr O'Connor said.

Meanwhile, Wellington health officials are investigating the death of a woman on Thursday of suspected meningococcal disease.

Nileema Sharan, 25, was found dead in her bed at her central Wellington flat the day after seeing the doctor.

Her flatmate was taken to Wellington Hospital yesterday with suspected meningococcal disease.

- NZPA