Challenge to bug strain secrecy

LEADING meningococcal experts are calling on the Tasmanian Government to publicly release the strain of the disease that killed a Hobart teenager and hospitalised two others as thousands of children prepare to return to school today.

Premier Will Hodgman says he will not publicly release the strains for privacy reasons.

University of Sydney’s Professor Robert Booy says the information should be released so that suitable preventive measures can be taken.

Meningococcal Australia’s Eliza Ault-Connell also says it is important that the Government release the information to raise a higher level of awareness about the disease and its different serotypes.

LEADING meningococcal health authorities are calling on the Tasmanian Government to publicly release the strains of the disease that tragically killed a Hobart teenager and hospitalised two others as thousands of children prepare to return to school today.

An outbreak of the disease has killed a teenager and hospitalised an infant and an adult man in the past fortnight.

Yesterday, Premier Will Hodgman said he would not publicly disclose the strain of meningococcal disease that took the life of a Hobart teenager for privacy reasons.

“I’m not in a position to at this point, nor indeed is the Government or Public Health, to release that information that relates to a tragic set of circumstances,” he said.

“It’s important we respect the privacy and the sensitivity around this issue in the interest of the family suffering as a result of this terrible tragedy.

“The best thing we can say as a government with respect to public interest is for people to be very aware of any risk or threat to their health,” he said. “If there is a need to receive a vaccination they should do so.”

But leading expert in the study of meningococcal disease, University of Sydney’s Robert Booy, said the information should be released so that a suitable preventive measure could be undertaken.

“We have had three cases in Tasmania and the question is whether they have been caused by strain B or W,” he said.

“It’s important for the Government to release that information because different strains can spread in the com- munity and we need to know which one is causing the problem. Those two diseases require two different vaccines and it’s important to know what is the problem.”

Prof Booy said for the past three years the W strain had increased in the two most atrisk groups — children up to 5 years and teens and young adults from 15 — 24 years.

“It’s increasing around the world in the UK, Europe and South America,” he said.

Meningococcal Australia’s Eliza Ault-Connell also says it is important that Government releases the information to raise a higher level of awareness about the disease and its different serotypes.

“If we start to share with the community the different serotype groups the community learns that there are different groups and different vaccinations,” she said.

“That’s when we see a proactive community, state and potentially country.”

Tasmanian Catholic Schools Parents Council president Brendan McManus said there had been some concern among families surrounding the latest outbreak as they prepare to send their children to school today.

“We are telling parents to be guided by state health authorities and their GPs,” he said.

“I can understand given the recent death that parents are concerned about it.”

Prof Booy, who has studied meningococcal disease for the past 30 years, called for calm until more information was provided.

“Until we know whether B strain is causing big trouble in Tasmania we … don’t need to jump to an opinion based on evidence we don’t have yet.”

It’s important we respect the privacy and the sensitivity around this issue in the interest of the family. WILL HODGMAN