Likely meningitis case flown to Christchurch

A one-year-old baby with suspected meningitis was airlifted from Westport on Saturday morning.

A Westport doctor flew with the infant in the Solid Energy rescue helicopter to Greymouth, then the baby continued to Christchurch Hospital by air ambulance.

Community and Public Health was still waiting to confirm the illness today.

All meningitis or suspected meningitis cases must be reported, so that anyone who may have been in contact with the victim can receive precautionary drug treatment.

There had been only one other case of meningitis on the West Coast in the past year when an 11-month-old a child was diagnosed in Westland last December. The child was treated in Grey Base Hospital and then discharged.

- NZPA