Millions of teenagers will be urgently vaccinated as the government scrambles to avert a fresh outbreak of meningitis.
A rare aggressive strain appears to be accelerating, killing children and teenagers as well as the old, and experts are warning of a “public health emergency” unless there is immediate action.
Health chiefs began planning last night to offer meningitis W jabs to all children aged 14 to 18, at a cost of tens of millions of pounds. Officials insisted they would not be put off by the cost, despite the haggling that has delayed the introduction of a separate jab for meningitis B for more than a year. Charities urged the jab’s makers and the government to come to a deal, given that the B vaccine also offers some protection against the W strain.
In the 1990s an outbreak of meningitis C killed hundreds of children, prompting panic in schools and universities, before a vaccine was introduced in 1999. The government’s joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) has warned of a return to those days without immediate action against MenW.
Andrew Pollard, chairman of the committee, said: “We have seen an increase in MenW cases this winter caused by a highly aggressive strain of the bug. We reviewed the outbreak in detail at JCVI and concluded that this increase was likely to continue in future years unless action is taken.
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“We have therefore advised the Department of Health to implement a vaccination programme for teenagers as soon as possible.”
From only 22 in 2009, cases of MenW increased to 117 last year, and this year there were 38 cases in January alone. The death rate is running at one in eight and in the past two years children have been dying as well as the elderly.
The committee concluded that the cases seen to date were “likely the start of a much larger outbreak, one potentially in the same order as that seen with MenC in the 1990s”.
Professor John Watson, deputy chief medical officer, said: “We accept JCVI’s advice for an immunisation programme to combat this devastating disease. We are working with NHS England, Public Health England and the vaccine manufacturer to develop a plan to tackle the rising number of MenW cases.”
Symptoms of meningitis include fever, vomiting, drowsiness, sensitivity to light and a rash that does not fade. The infection can leave victims with brain damage and is often fatal. Early treatment with antibiotics can be lifesaving.
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Although the government insisted that the risk to individuals was low, Shamez Ladhani of Public Health England said: “It’s crucial that we all remain alert to the signs and symptoms of the disease and seek urgent medical attention if there is any concern.
“The disease develops rapidly and early symptoms can include headache, vomiting, muscle pain and fever with cold hands and feet. Be aware of all signs and symptoms — and don’t wait for a rash to develop before seeking urgent medical attention.”
Professor Adam Finn, of the University of Bristol, said that MenW was thought to have arrived from South America but scientists had no idea why. “It’s taken off very sharply. Given what we know from previous outbreaks, it’s getting across the country so without protection this will be a quite significant problem,” he said. “Fortunately we’ve got a very effective vaccine.”
Sue Davie, chief executive of the charity Meningitis Now, said: “We are deeply concerned about the 431 per cent increase of meningitis W in the UK.
“We note the JCVI’s recognition that the meningitis B vaccine stands to protect infants against meningitis W. So today’s actions reinforce the need to get the new vaccine, held up in negotiations some eight months, introduced immediately.”
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Vigilance is the best defence
In the 1990s the mention of meningitis sent a chill down every parent’s spine. It was a threat that tapped into our deepest anxieties — a disease that could sneak into a house almost overnight, and carry off a healthy child with bewildering suddenness.
No wonder surgeries were besieged when the meningitis C vaccination was introduced in the Nineties. Parents were desperate to get the jab and no wonder, it almost immediately ended the threat. Cases went from thousands a year to just a handful today.
For that reason parents would be well advised to let their children be given the latest MenW jab. How it will be offered is yet to be worked out, but it is likely to be through schools, as happens now with the meningitis C catch-up programme.
When this will start is not yet clear, and while the situation is worrying it is not yet a crisis. The government has promised to act quickly, there is already an effective vaccine and, with parents’ help, this threat will not be as severe as before.
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Experts say vigilance remains the best defence. MenW is treatable if caught early but this can be difficult as the the first signs may mimic flu. By the time the classic rash appears (not always present) the disease is at its most dangerous.
So know what you’re looking for and tell a doctor. A parent’s intuition can mean the difference between life and death.