Kerikeri High School in Northland Prepares to Help Students and Staff After Meningococcal Death

The school attended by the late meningococcus, aged 16, prepares to take care of her teachers and friends.

The boy died Saturday night at the Auckland Municipal Hospital after being driven by helicopter from Motutapu Island into the Gulf of Hauraki, suffering from symptoms of suspicion of death. meningococcal infection.

A Justice Ministry spokeswoman said the death of the teenager had been referred to a coroner.

Dr. Denise Barnfather of the Auckland Regional Public Health Service told the Herald today, meningococcal disease has been confirmed as the cause of death in adolescents. The strain was not yet known. The samples had been sent to an ESR laboratory in Wellington for strain identification, which should take 15 days.

The boy attended Kerikeri High School in Northland.

Director Elizabeth Forgie said she was in school today with colleagues who were preparing to contact students and staff.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends in this terrible time and we will be there to give them all the support they can get."

She added that she had been informed by public health nurses of the Northland District Health Board that there was "no significant risk" of meningococcal disease in the community as a whole. school.

Barnfather, a medical officer of health, said that a preventive antibiotic treatment had already been administered to nine close contacts of the teenager last night, but she expects that number to increase.

The teenager was one of about 190 people attending an 8 to 18 year old youth camp at a St. John youth camp in Motutapu. The camp was to end today.

The public health service said it had not been informed of new cases of meningococcal disease.

Duncan Watson, head of the Motutapu camp, said there were no more cases there.

He added that the health condition of his son, aged 16, had worsened after his transfer to the hospital, resulting in the appearance of a characteristic rash of meningococcal sepsis.

"My understanding is [it appeared] between the departure of the camp and the hospital; I do not know if it was in the helicopter or at the hospital. "

Dr. Simon Baker, medical officer of health of the Northland District Health Board, said it was "very tragic for the family of the deceased young man and for everyone at the camp".

"We recognize that youth, their families and camp staff will also feel very upset and anxious."

Northland Public Health nurses asked the family who others had been at risk in the past seven days that the young man was infectious. Those who were in close contact with the young man had received antibiotics.

"Meningococcal disease is a serious, sometimes life-threatening disease, and can be difficult to diagnose, so we provide information to youth and their parents so that they can remain alert to symptoms," Baker said.

"It can look like flu right from the start, but it gets worse quickly, it's important to get treatment early."

Symptoms included some or all of the following: fever; headache; vomiting; Feel sleepy, confused and delirious loss of consciousness; joint pain; aching muscles; stiff neck; aversion to bright lights; or rashes, purple or red spots, or bruising.

Other symptoms seen in babies and infants include being unstable, flabby or irritable, refusing food and drinks, and becoming more difficult to wake up.

Children who had previously been vaccinated against meningococcus could still contract the disease because the vaccine did not protect against all types of meningococcal bacteria, Baker said.

"If you or someone you know has these symptoms, do not wait."

Concerned individuals should call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or consult a physician.

In 2011, an emergency vaccination program against meningococcal C strain was conducted in Northland because of an epidemic of this strain that appeared in the area during the winter.

The epidemic has mainly affected children and young people. By the end of December 2011, nine cases of meningococcal C had been confirmed, including three deaths.

Free vaccination (funded by the state) was available for people aged 1 to 20 years. More than 32,000 children and youth – about 73% of the region's population in this age group – received the vaccine in one injection three months later.

Apprentice Plumbing Apprentice Ben Brown, 18, is one of the victims of the 2011 outbreak.

Previously healthy and healthy, he fell suddenly ill one night after his work in August 2011. He had a sore neck, was seen sitting in a state of stupor, had nothing left to eat and starts shaking uncontrollably.

He was taken to a medical and accident clinic that brought him home with a leaflet on meningitis and a prescription for oral antibiotics for tonsillitis and paracetamol. .

He deteriorated and went by ambulance to the hospital, where he spent several hours before improving and getting his leave. Oral antibiotics are thought to have masked the severity of his condition.

The day after his discomfort, Ben suddenly worsened and was taken to a general medical clinic and then to the hospital. He was seriously ill. He received intravenous antibiotics, a CT scan and a lumbar puncture test and was admitted to the intensive care unit.

Ben has deteriorated. He died on a Saturday afternoon at Whangārei Hospital, the third day after becoming ill.

The hospital has implemented changes to address the issues identified during a review of Ben's care.