Watchful eye on meningitis

By Tom Clarke

CREATING an awareness among young people of the health dangers involved in sharing drink bottles, is one of the objectives of the newly-formed Meningitis Foundation.

Auckland management search consultant David Anning, who is chairman of the foundation, says meningitis is "a hell of a disease."

It can be simply and effectively treated with antibiotics, he says, but because its symptoms are so like those of the flu it is very hard to diagnose and is often missed.

The disease has become much more prevalent in many Western industrialised countries in recent years, but in New Zealand the incidence is significantly higher.

"Some 80 per cent of the cases in this country are amongst the Maori and Polynesian populations, but nobody knows why," Mr Anning says. "There are two most-at-risk age groups - children under two years, and young adults - where there has been a big increase, but again no one knows why."

Many people carry the meningitis germ in the back of their throat and it is believed to be transmitted through saliva.

Mr Anning says one reason that has been put forward for the high incidence of the disease among young adults is because of our sporting lifestyle and the tendency of participants to pass around drink bottles. Another possible reason could be swapping drinks and bottles at parties.

He says one early success for the foundation has been to persuade players in the Super 12 rugby series to spray fluid into their mouths from drink bottles and not to put them to their mouths.

The foundation is the fifth to be formed in Western nations recently, reflecting the sudden international upsurge in the disease. It has three objectives - to raise funds for research, to promote awareness of the disease and to establish a 24-hour help line to provide support to those who need it.

The foundation was started with what Mr Anning describes as "a generous donation" from the Tindall Foundation. It plans to seek additional funding from avenues such as charitable trusts and lottery grants, as well as organising its own fund raising.

It has also received financial help from the Devonport Wine and Food Festival which is run by the Devonport Rotary Club.

Other members of the foundation trust are Dr Diana Lennan, a paediatrician with Auckland Health Care who specialises in infectious diseases, Dr Chris Bullen, a public health medicine specialist also with Auckland Health Care, and Professor Keith Grimwood of the Wellington School of Medicine. Lay members include two parents who have lost children to the disease, an accountant, and two lawyers.

Mr Anning became involved through his membership of the Auckland Rotary Club which was approached to help set up the foundation. He has spent the last five years working on the rebuilding of St Matthew-in-the-City.

He is a director of Fidelity Life Assurance Co Ltd and managing partner of executive search company, David Anning & Associates Ltd.