Killer bug confirmed in Wellington

Meningitis has claimed one life and infected four other people in Wellington. File photo / NZ Herald

Meningococcal disease has claimed one life and infected four other people in the Wellington region this month.

A Regional Public Health Service spokeswoman said the five cases involved children and young people, but would not confirm the age of the person who had died.

Northland District Health Board last week announced a school-based immunisation campaign for meningitis C, which has infected six people in the area since July and claimed two lives.

Young children, teenagers and young adults are most at risk from meningitis C, and the Northland campaign aims to vaccinate at least 85 percent of those aged one to 20.