Meningococcal disease warning
Public health officials are urging people to be alert to the symptoms of meningococcal disease in Nelson, after four people have been diagnosed this year.
Nelson Marlborough Health medical officer of health Dr Andrew Lindsay said people should be alert to the symptoms as an outbreak of meningococcal disease continued in Northland.
Lindsay said four people had been hospitalised with bacterial meningitis in Nelson this year. All were aged between 18 and 35.
The local cases were not connected, were different strains to that in Northland and did not constitute an outbreak, Lindsay said, but people were urged to be mindful of the disease.
Cases of bacterial meningitis were more life-threatening and could progress rapidly, so urgent medical attention was critical, he said. Viral meningitis, while serious and less likely to be lifethreatening, still required medical attention to exclude the bacterial form.
‘‘Winter and spring are typically when we experience the highest incidence of disease. It’s also the time of year when people start to travel and socialise more, in larger groups of people,’’ Lindsay said.
‘‘While meningococcal disease can affect anyone, babies, young children, teenagers and young adults living in halls of residence, flatting or boarding dormitories are at greater risk.’’
In November, Ministry of Health figures showed there were 112 cases of meningococcal disease in 2017, and 96 cases so far this year. The annual number of cases has increased steadily since 2014, when 45 were reported.
The outbreak of deadly meningococcal W in Northland has led the ministry to announce an urgent vaccination programme starting today.
Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose because it can look like other illnesses, such as the flu. Symptoms can develop suddenly and include a high fever, headache, sleepiness, and joint and muscle pains. There can also be more specific symptoms, such as a stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, vomiting, crying, refusal to feed (in infants), and a rash consisting of reddish-purple pinprick spots or bruises. Vaccination against meningococcal disease is available.