Meningococcal B vaccine only months from release

By REBECCA WALSH health reporter

A vaccine to protect against meningococcal B disease - which has killed two people in the past week - is less than a year away from national release but health officials say public awareness remains the best defence against the disease.

An Army recruit is dead and another critically ill after an outbreak of meningococcal disease at Waiouru Military Camp.

The second victim was a Wellington woman who died after waiting more than three hours to be seen by doctors at Wellington Hospital.

She then saw a doctor at a private accident and emergency clinic, who gave her painkillers and told her to go home and sleep.

Radhika Mani, the mother of 25-year-old Nileema Sharan, who died on Thursday, is angry with the lack of care her daughter received and believes doctors overlooked obvious symptoms of meningococcal disease.

"Anybody running a temperature, with a rash on their neck and saying they have a splitting headache and that their head is going to explode, that's seriously more than a pulled muscle."

Ms Sharan, a receptionist at the InterContinental Hotel, had strained her neck at work on Wednesday and later began shaking uncontrollably.

She was taken by ambulance to the emergency department at Wellington Hospital.

After waiting more than three hours, during which time she vomited and had a temperature, her sister took her to the nearby Accident and Urgent Medical Centre.

There Ms Sharan was given injections and pain killers, told she had strained her neck and to go home and sleep.

"She went home to sleep and never woke up. It's very, very devastating and I'm very angry," Ms Mani said.

She believed greater public awareness of the disease was needed, not just pamphlets but community seminars. "It's not going to bring my daughter back but it's going to make someone else's life much easier and save some other people's lives."

Ms Sharan's sister Pritika and Pritika's flatmate are being treated with antibiotics.

A hospital spokesman said information was being gathered from staff about what had happened.

In the next two days a decision would be made about whether a wider investigation was needed.

Dr Ken Greer, director of the private medical centre, was not available for comment last night.

Dr Jane O'Hallahan, director of the Ministry of Health's meningococcal vaccine strategy, said she believed clinicians had become more skilled at picking up the disease and there was greater public awareness of its signs and symptoms.

Considerable effort had gone into public awareness campaigns, including visiting homes in South Auckland, which was considered the highest risk area, she said.

So far this year 202 cases have been reported with no deaths until last week, compared with 198 cases and seven deaths this time last year.

Trials of a vaccine for meningococcal B, which makes up about 90 per cent of cases, are well under way, with plans for free vaccine for those under 20 from next May.

Dr O'Hallahan said the vaccine could not be relied on for some time and it was public awareness that was going to make the difference.

The vaccine has been tested on adults, schoolchildren and toddlers. About 200 babies have been enrolled but 100 more are needed.


Deadly disease

Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection causing inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can result in death or permanent disability such as deafness or disfigurement.

Symptoms include a fever, headache, vomiting, a rash, drowsiness and joint or muscle pain. Babies may refuse food or drink, cry a lot and appear sleepy and floppy.

The bacteria can be spread by close contact, for example living in the same household or sharing drinks.

Meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed in time.

Vaccines are available for meningococcal A and C strains but 90 per cent of cases in New Zealand are strain B. A vaccine for strain B is being tested and could be in widespread use next year.