Meningitis rises as flu spreads

Seven people have fallen seriously ill with meningococcal disease in the past three weeks in the Wellington region prompting health authorities to warn the public to stay alert for symptoms.

Medical officer of health Annette Nesdale said that, for the past four years, there had been an average of about one case a month.

The seven-fold increase was probably linked to the high prevalence of flu.

"It's common to see cases of meningococcal disease rise after a lot of flu and respiratory illness in the community," she said.

"People are spending more time inside in close proximity, and they are coughing and sneezing.

"So if they have some [meningococcal] bacteria at the back of their nose, they could easily spread it."

There was no known link between the cases.

Three are in the Hutt Valley, two in Wellington and one each from the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa. Three were under five, two were teenagers and two were adults over 20.

Two people remain in hospital but the others are now recovering at home.

Dr Nesdale said all were making good progress.

None of the three tests results received so far have been the epidemic strain of meningococcal B, which was the target of a $200million vaccination campaign for people under the age of 20.

The total number of reported cases for 2008 was 115, with eight deaths, but fewer than half were the epidemic strain of meningococcal disease.

This compared with 650 reported cases at the height of the epidemic in 2001. Dr Nesdale said meningococcal disease was hard to spot because its symptoms were very similar to those of flu.

With the current swine flu pandemic, there was a risk that cases could be overlooked. "People with the disease can deteriorate and become ill rapidly, so it's important to keep a close eye on anyone with flu symptoms, especially babies and young children."

Anyone with meningococcal disease requires urgent hospital admission and antibiotic treatment.

The latest Environmental Science and Research surveillance reports show there have been 74 notifications of meningococcal disease nationally so far this year about 10 more than at the same time last year.

- © Fairfax NZ News