Meningococcal fatality rate low, but some deaths 'inevitable'

11.45am

Some deaths from meningococcal disease are inevitable because of the nature of the ailment, health officials said today.

But they said the fatality rate of about 3 per cent in New Zealand was low by world standards.

A 15-year-old Auckland girl died yesterday in the third death in the country from the illness this year.

She died in Auckland Hospital of blood poisoning caused by meningococcal bacteria, after seeking medical help at a GP clinic on Tuesday afternoon.

She was so sick when she arrived at hospital by ambulance at 2am yesterday that she was taken straight to a resuscitation room. She died at 5.40am.

Auckland District Health Board chief medical officer David Sage said 97 per cent of New Zealanders who contracted meningococcal disease survived.

"Our fatality rate is quite low in terms of international practice," he said.

"We think part of that is the vigilance we have in the general population for being seen early and for going to the doctor when possible signs are present.

"We get a proportion of these that we can see and treat and avert."

But Dr Sage said even the best health care would not save everyone.

There was an inevitable group of people whose immune system meant they could succumb quickly to the disease, he said.

"This disease is one which can be so rapid.

"Even in just six or eight hours, you can go from completely well, or mildly unwell and having been checked out completely with a physician, to becoming rapidly unwell at home and straight into hospital and still die."

In the latest case, the girl was seen at the White Cross medical centre in Henderson, west Auckland, at 3pm on Tuesday.

Her family reported she had been assessed in detail for the possibility of meningitis, but no evidence was found and she went home.

White Cross medical director Alistair Sullivan said the family noticed the girl had developed a rash and took her straight to hospital.

He said White Cross was in the process of conducting a review into the case with the help of the Health Ministry.

The GP who had examined the girl was extremely upset and had been stood down on full pay.

Dr Sullivan said the move, which was usual in such cases, was no reflection on the GP's performance.

Clinicians relied on the story and appearance of patients and on test results to determine if immediate treatment was needed.

Meningococcal symptoms include fever, vomiting, headache, rash, stiff neck, young children refusing drinks or food, high-pitched crying from babies, sleepiness and joint pain.

Not all symptoms may be present and people who suspect they might have the disease are advised to see a doctor immediately.

Meanwhile, Auckland public health officials said they had traced one of the dead girl's close friends, whom they had been seeking to find out if she had also been affected.

The 14-year-old friend was on holiday in the North Island with her family, who were receiving "appropriate advice".

- NZPA