Funding likely for meningococcal vaccine

The Government plans to fund the development of a vaccine for a deadly meningococcal disease strain that appears unique to New Zealand.

Prime Minister Helen Clark hinted yesterday that a health announcement about treatment of the meningococcal disease would be made later this week.

Officials confirmed that the Government had agreed to back the development. The sources refused to say how much the work would cost or its chance of success.

The possibility of funding being allocated was raised in December by Treasury officials, who flagged it as an unquantified fiscal risk.

Up to 20 per cent of the population carry the meningococcal bacterium in their nose and throat.

Though not all carriers become sick, babies and young children are at particular risk of getting blood poisoning or meningitis.

The bacterium is spread by close contact - sharing food, drink or eating utensils - with someone who is carrying it.

More New Zealanders died of meningococcal disease last year than any other year since the epidemic began 11 years ago, Health Ministry figures show. Twenty-six people died from the disease, compared with 17 in 2000.

Ministry public health specialist Jane O'Hallahan said she expected the epidemic, which has so far taken 184 lives, to last another 10 years.

New Zealand was at the peak of the epidemic and could expect another year or two with high numbers of cases.

- NZPA

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