by Selwyn Manning -
Auckland has seen an upsurge of the deadly meningicoccal disease with 22 cases listed since the beginning of July. This
compares to 14 cases for Auckland for the same time last year.
The potentially fatal disease has caused Auckland Healthcare officers to issue a warning to people to watch out for
symptoms. Severe headaches, a stiff neck, flu-like symptoms, and skin rashes can all indicate meningitis.
This weekend a 14-year-old girl died in Whangarei after contracting the disease. Her school mates are receiving
antibiotics as a precautionary measure against bacterial infection.
Dr Chris Bullen, from Auckland Healthcare, says communities in Northland, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty have been hit
particularly hard.
Health authorities are preparing for the worst. Dr Bullen says nationally the number of meningitis cases for this year
could end up matching 1997's record level.