A Dunedin baby had made a "full recovery" from meningococcal
disease in Dunedin Hospital and was back at home, Public
Health South medical officer of health Dr Marion Poore said.
An "error" had initially linked the baby to three adult cases
of meningococcal C which have surprised health authorities.
The disease usually hits children and teenagers. The baby had
the more unusual W135 strain.
The baby's infection was not linked in any way to the other
cases, including Fulton Hogan chief executive Bill Perry
(48), who died on Saturday in Christchurch Hospital.
Dr Poore said the baby benefited from early diagnosis and
prompt treatment and was able to make a rapid recovery.
She did not know how many nights the baby spent in hospital,
its gender, or age.
A Dunedin Fulton Hogan employee was making a good recovery in
Dunedin Hospital with septicemia caused by meningococcal C,
Dr Poore said.
The Canterbury District Health Board yesterday issued a press
release confirming a third person, a woman in her 40s, was
recovering in Christchurch Hospital. Her case was not linked
to the Fulton Hogan cases.
Canterbury DHB medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey
did not believe there was a need for a vaccination programme
against meningococcal disease.
"If people have further concerns, they should discuss these
with their family doctor.
"Meningococcal disease is not easily transmitted from person
to person. It's transmitted only by close personal contact
that allows bacteria to pass from the nose and throat of one
person to another."
Health authorities had treated "close contacts" of the cases
with a short course of antibiotics to reduce the risk of
developing the disease, Dr Humphrey said.
Dr Poore said a vaccine combining A, C, W135, and Y was
available on a voluntary basis, but was not part of the
immunisation schedule. It was funded only for high-risk
groups.
Fulton Hogan managing director Nick Miller said he had spoken
to the Dunedin Fulton Hogan employee, who was "stable" and
recovering in Dunedin Hospital.
Mr Miller said the man, who was aged in his 50s, was told
yesterday he would need to spend another two or three days in
hospital.
Fulton Hogan was coping with the tragic loss of its "larger
than life" chief executive, Mr Perry.
The Dunedin employee had attended meetings in Christchurch
last Wednesday and Auckland on Thursday. Mr Perry was present
at both.
University of Otago (Wellington) infectious diseases
specialist Associate Prof Michael Baker said the incidence of
C strain "bounced" up and down, but overall was not rising.
It behaved differently from other strains in that it tended
to appear in small, tight clusters. The epidemic B strain,
the incidence of which had waned, behaved more like a slowly
rising wave, he said.
It was unclear whether the meningococcal B vaccination
programme between 2004 and 2008 was continuing to keep the
epidemic at bay or if it had naturally waned.
Prof Baker believed a vaccine would eventually be offered
combining B, C and other strains, at which time it would
probably be added to the immunisation schedule.
Mr Perry's death was a reminder the disease could kill people
of "any age or standing".
With a 5% fatality rate for all meningococcal strains, New
Zealand was one of the "best places in the world" to get the
disease because doctors were familiar with it. He hoped the
recent publicity would alert parents to be vigilant for
symptoms, as early detection was key to survival and a full
recovery.
Last year, 96 cases of meningococcal disease were notified in
New Zealand, 84 were confirmed, and six cases were fatal.
Of the confirmed cases, B-epidemic was the most common
strain, accounting for 25 cases. C strain accounted for 22
cases and W135 for six.
Invercargill teenager Sara Loo died last July in Auckland
after a two-month fight with meningococcal septicemia C.
eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
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