Baby dies of meningitis days before vaccination due

The killer disease meningitis has claimed the life of an eight-month-old boy just days before he was due to be vaccinated.

The vaccination campaign began in Manawatu yesterday but it was too late for the baby who died in Starship Hospital in Auckland on Sunday after suffering the blood-poisoning effects of meningococcal disease.

It is not yet known whether it was the epidemic B strain of the disease that caused his illness.

The boy had been booked in for his first immunisation against meningococcal B on April 30.

Senior health protection officer Peter Wood said the boy arrived at Palmerston North Hospital on Saturday in a serious condition and was airlifted to Auckland the same day.

Paediatrician Jeff Brown said the boy's death showed how quickly a child could become desperately ill.

"He was only mildly unwell but by the time he was found at night he was seriously ill with blotches all over.

"He needed intensive fluids, help with breathing, he was immediately on antibiotics and received as much intensive care as you could throw at a child.

"But the problem with this dreadful, dreadful disease, is that can all be too late."

Dr Brown said any parents still uncertain whether to have their children immunised should remember that the disease did not respect people's ethnicity, whether they were rich or poor, or whether they lived in crowded homes or big houses.

"It does not respect your address," he said.

Mr Wood said the child's extended family and close contacts had been identified and a total of 18 people were receiving preventative antibiotics to stop the risk of the infection spreading.

Public Health was working with the childcare centre the little boy attended to ensure those who needed antibiotics received them . No other cases had come forward.

- NZPA