Teens warned that kissing could kill

Researchers have probed another activity that can spread meningococcal disease among teenagers - kissing.

A study in the British Medical Journal says intimate kissing of multiple partners can increase a teenager's risk of contracting meningococcal disease by up to four times.

The study looked at 144 teens aged 15 to 19 years. It identified intimate kissing - with tongues - as a new risk factor. The researchers defined "multiple partners" as two to seven partners in two weeks.

Meningococci bacteria pass easily between people through coughing, sneezing and saliva.

In the general population about 10 per cent of people may carry the meningococcal bacterium in the back of their throats. But in students this can be up to 40 per cent because of their "social interaction", according to the study.

Researchers in the study said getting information to teens about the increased risk from kissing was unlikely to have a significant impact, but in New Zealand Dr Diana Martin, principal scientist at Environmental Science and Research (ESR), said informing teenagers of the newly identified risk would be a good start.

"The message about the risks of sharing drink bottles has been well picked up. Perhaps we now need to make it clear to teens that kissing is also likely to increase their chances of getting this disease.

"By giving them this new information they can choose to modify their behaviour and make sure they are fully immunised."

In England and the United States there was a dramatic increase in the incidence and fatality rate among teens from meningococcal disease during the 1990s. New Zealand is in the 15th year of a meningococcal disease epidemic: 5882 people contracted the disease between 1991 and the end of 2005 - 238 of them died.

In New Zealand one strain has caused the epidemic which led the Government to introduce its Meningococcal B Immunisation Programme in 2004. There have been early signs of a reduction in the disease.

Dr Martin said the MeNZB vaccine only offers protection against the predominant B strain, so people need to remain vigilant for other forms of meningococcal disease.

Time was running out for 5 to 19- year-olds to be vaccinated. The mass vaccination programme for this age group ends June 30, so they need to start first doses as soon as possible, Dr Martin said.

The vaccine would be available until the end of December for 5 to 19- year-olds needing to complete second and third doses.

Nearly three million MeNZB doses have now been given to New Zealanders aged 6 weeks to 19 years. More than 1,026,000 young people have started the programme and over 920,000 have had all three doses.

- NZPA