Tests rule out arrival of new illness strain

Northland health authorities have ruled out the emergence of a new meningitis strain in the region.

Three Whangarei children who all attended the same preschool became ill with meningococcal disease over the same weekend at the end of September.

Antibiotics were offered to 51 children and seven staff who spent time at the Kensington Childcare Centre before the outbreak.

Northland Medical Officer of Health Dr Jonathan Jarman had been concerned that a new strain of the deadly disease might have emerged.

However, laboratory testing has confirmed that two of the three children were infected by the epidemic strain, meningococcal B - the strain that has been causing problems in New Zealand since 1991.

Dr Jarman said vaccinations due to start in Northland in November would protect against this strain.

Children who receive the three injections of the meningococcal B vaccine would get a good level of protection.

Dr Jarman said results for the third child were not yet available but the child was likely to have the same strain.

Northland Health had come under community pressure to bring the vaccination date forward.

But Dr Jarman said that wasn't possible because preparations for the project needed to be completed and the vaccine wouldn't arrive in Northland until a few days before the start of vaccination.

The key issue was not when the injections started but rather how many children ended up being vaccinated.

GPs will start vaccinating children aged between six months and five years with the new meningococcal B vaccine on November 22. School-age children will be vaccinated at school in May next year.

- NZPA