The Meningitis Foundation is calling for urgent action after two people died from meningococcal meningitis in recent weeks.
There were five confirmed cases of the illness over the past five weeks, including two deaths – the most recent occurring over the weekend.
Foundation chairman Gerard Rushton said in a statement that the cluster of cases was a stark reminder of how devastating and fast-moving meningococcal disease could be.
“The loss of three lives in such a short time is utterly heartbreaking. Every case of meningococcal disease is a tragedy but knowing that some of these deaths could have been prevented with wider vaccine access makes it even harder to accept,” Rushton said.
The Meningitis Foundation earlier claimed there were three deaths from meningococcal meningitis, but the figure has since been revised to two.
“One of the deaths has been confirmed as a case of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (also known as pneumococcal meningitis), and was not meningococcal meningitis as stated by the Foundation. Pneumococcal meningitis is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, while meningococcal meningitis is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria,” the charity said.
“Both Pneumococcal meningitis and meningococcal meningitis can be life-threatening if not treated urgently, however, they are distinct illnesses. Both are vaccine preventable.
“The Meningitis Foundation regrets the error.”
Symptoms of meningococcal disease resemble the flu or a cold and typically worsens rapidly. As it progresses, it can cause inflammation of the membranes around the brain (meningitis) or a blood infection (septicaemia), according to Health NZ.
Meningococcal meningitis is caused by meningococcus bacteria infecting the lining of the brain and spinal cord, leading to swelling. Symptoms include a stiff neck, fever, headache, eyes becoming more sensitive to light, and confusion.
About one in 12 children and one in six older adults who get pneumococcal meningitis die of the infection, Health NZ said. People who live may have long-term problems, such as hearing loss or developmental delay.
Currently, access to the two meningococcal vaccines – one for meningococcal B, and another for the A, C, W and Y strains – have limited public funding in New Zealand via drug-buying agency Pharmac and access remains limited for many families.
Rushton said inequality in accessing vaccines is putting lives at risk.
“We are deeply concerned that too many tamariki remain unprotected against a disease that can take a life in hours,” he said.
“We call upon the Government to progress widening access to these vaccines so that cost and circumstance are never barriers to protection. We cannot wait until more families are grieving the loss of a loved one to act. These are preventable deaths, and prevention is always better than cure.”
The Meningitis Foundation has submitted an application with Pharmac to widen access to funded vaccines for meningitis to all adolescents between the aged between 13 and 25.
