Two die of meningococcal disease in Waikato

Two people died of meningococcal disease in the Waikato last month, health authorities said.

Waikato Medical Officer of Health Anita Bell yesterday confirmed the deaths of a baby girl under the age of one and a woman in her 60s.

They were the only deaths from the disease in the Waikato this year.

Dr Bell would not specify where in the Waikato the victims lived, saying she wanted to protect the families.

The baby was not immunised and died of the meningococcal B strain while the elderly woman died of another strain of the disease.

Overall, Waikato recorded 32 cases of meningitis this year, the highest in the country.

- nzpa