Meningococcal victim in stable condition

A 12-year-old girl with a suspected meningococcal infection is in a stable condition in hospital. Photo / Thinkstock

A 12-year-old Northland girl suspected of having meningococcal disease is in a stable condition at Starship Hospital this morning.

She could be the 13th case of the disease that has killed three people in the region since July.

Tegan Clapperton was admitted to Whangarei Hospital on Wednesday. She was stabilised and flown to Auckland where she was put into islation in intensive care.

Her grandmother Yvonne Clapperton said Tegan's parents Dave and Jo Clapperton had been by their daughter's bedside and watched her improve.

They were amazed at how fast the disease had gripped the young, fit girl.

Tegan had been at the movies with friends on Tuesday, returned home and told her mother she was cold.

"The next morning she couldn't breathe,'' Yvonne said.

She was taken to a medical centre where a doctor "pumped her full of antibiotics and basically saved her life''.

The girl remained in intensive care late yesterday but had been removed from isolation.

Northland medical officer of health Jonathan Jarman said the most important thing about meningococcal disease was that early intervention saved lives.

He said symptoms were hard to differentiate from influenza. They could include fever, headache, vomiting, sleepiness, a stiff neck, dislike of or sensitivity to bright lights, joint and muscle pains and a rash.

Cases of the deadly disease have been reported throughout the country this year, including 12 in Wellington, where there have been two deaths.

The Lakes District Health Board, which includes Rotorua and Taupo, has reported four cases, including one death, and two other suspected cases.

The Northland District Health Board last month began a mass vaccination aiming to help prevent the spread of the bug.

The board's campaign aimed to vaccinate up to 40,000 Northlanders aged between 1 and 20 years.

Mr Jarman's fellow medical officer of health, Clair Mills, has spoken out against those opposed to meningococcal immunisation, saying they are spreading dangerously incorrect information to the public.

The vaccine offered in Northland was effective and safe, and the best protection against the disease, Dr Mills said.

Contrary to "spurious'' claims by an anti-immunisation lobby, there was also no evidence the vaccine caused illness, she said.

The vaccine had been used since 1999 in Europe, Canada and Australia, where rates of meningococcal C disease had since reduced dramatically.

Anyone who is concerned should contact their doctor or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.