Expert's illness devastates peers

Scientists are upset that a young British expert who wanted to stop meningococcal disease killing even more people has fallen victim to the epidemic in New Zealand.

Jeannette Adu-Bobie, an experienced researcher in her 30s, remained critically ill in Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit last night, and may lose limbs after contracting the disease last month. Her parents and brother have flown to New Zealand.

She had been in New Zealand just 2 1/2 weeks, working at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) in Porirua.

Ms Adu-Bobie collapsed in front of four colleagues at the laboratory and was rushed to hospital. She had not shown symptoms of the disease.

Her workmates were very distressed, ESR chief executive John Hay said yesterday.

"They were devastated, but they are working well with the family and visiting the person in intensive care. She is very pleased to see them; that's really how they are getting through it," Dr Hay said.

"Here was a person who was dedicating her life to finding solutions to this disease, and succumbs to it herself."

Dr Hay said the other workers, who had not been vaccinated against the disease, had been given intensive doses of antibiotics as a precaution. It was not practical to vaccinate lab workers against all 50 strains of meningococcal disease, he said.

University of Auckland paediatrician and researcher Professor Diana Lennon said news that the scientist was critically ill was shocking. "It is devastating for anyone, let alone somebody who is doing it all for us."

It may never be known how Ms Adu-Bobie contracted the disease.

She had worked with strains of the bacteria in a European laboratory, and had spent a week in London, where the same strain of meningococcal disease is circulating, before travelling here.

There is no set incubation period for the illness.

The case is one of five recent but unrelated instances of meningococcal disease reported in the Wellington region. Public health official Dr Annette Nesdale said it was not an outbreak but she indicated the disease was circulating in the community.

Procedures and safety protocols at the laboratory at the Kenepuru Science Centre have been checked by an independent auditor and Occupational Safety and Health.

"Our investigations to date have shown it was extremely unlikely the infection was lab-acquired," OSH national operations manager Mike Cosman said.

The Government was told of the scientist's illness when she was admitted to hospital, and will be given the reports of the lab investigations when they are completed.

Her United States employer, Chiron Corporation, developed a specific vaccine for the prevalent NZ strain of meningococcal disease, and that is being used in a mass immunisation programme to try to stem the 14-year epidemic here.

Chiron spokeswoman Alison Marquiss told the Weekend Herald: "It's just a terrible, tragic coincidence, and we're very grateful to the New Zealand health services, her colleagues, her friends, and everyone who has done everything they can to support her.

"It's a tragic irony and at the same time it really underscores the importance of the work."

Meningococcal March

* Three people died and 53 others contracted meningococcal disease in the first three months of this year.
* A national vaccination programme is under way to try to stem New Zealand's 14-year epidemic.
* Health officials warn the disease can initially seem like flu and urge people to act quickly if meningococcal symptoms appear.
* Symptoms include:
A baby or child may have a fever, cry a lot, refuse feeds or drinks, vomit, be sleepy or floppy, dislike bright lights and have a rash or spots.
An adult may have a fever or headache, a stiff neck, joint or muscle pain, vomit, be sleepy or confused, dislike bright lights and have a rash or spots.