A SPATE of
meningitis infections over Christmas has led to fears the harsh winter could
see a return of the killer bug.
New figures
show eight people were struck down in Warwickshire compared with none during
the festive period last year. The outbreak has been put down to high levels of
flu this winter.
The Health
Protection Agency also revealed there were 252 confirmed cases across the UK, up from 191
last year and 142 the year before, during the period from December 8 to January
11. A similar peak in meningitis followed an outbreak of flu in 1989.
Christopher
Head, chief executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said the cold
winter months were the danger period.
“The latest
figures remind us that meningitis is a significant threat,” he said.
“This deadly
disease can kill in hours.
“The most
important thing you can do to protect your family against meningitis is to know
the symptoms and act quickly, as this could save a life.
Meningitis
is also thought to spread quickly during winter as people stay indoors more in
close proximity.
Kenilworth mum Julie Woodhouse, whose 16-year-old daughter
Sally died hours after contracting the bug in 2006, has warned parents to be
wary of the symptoms.
She said:
“Sally had a headache and a temperature and when the headache got worse we took
her to hospital.
“Sally
walked in and was talking fine and the doctors started testing her for what it
could be. Within two hours she had fallen asleep and didn’t wake up. It
happened very quickly.”
Although
there is a vaccine for some strains of the virus, the Kenilworth School
pupil had caught meningococcal meningitis strain B which has no vaccine. In
some cases antibiotics can be used to fight the bug, but sadly this was not
possible for Sally.
Julie, from
Windy Arbour, added: “Sally had no rash and this is normally one of the
symptoms.
“Because it
was just a headache and high temperature most people normally wouldn’t assume
it was anything that serious.
“I would say
to parents, if their child has these symptoms it could be meningitis. If that
is the case it is very important they get straight to a hospital and be given
antibiotics very quickly.”
For more
information about the symptoms of meningitis call The Meningitis Trust’s free
24-hour helpline on 0800 0281828.
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Coventry News 
