Vaccine for the deadliest strain of meningitis

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Vaccine for the deadliest strain of meningitis

by MARTYN HALLE

Last updated at 11:23am on 7th November 2006

Doctors may soon have a vaccine for a deadly strain of meningitis that kills

more than 200 children a year.

A British trial in which several hundred babies have been immunised with a

vaccine for meningitis B is under way, with the results expected next year.

Meningitis B is one of the biggest childhood killers, affecting mainly

babies and younger children, and is responsible for 90 per cent of the

meningitis deaths in the UK.

It infects more than 2,500 people a year and causes blood poisoning to sweep

through the body. Patients' limbs often have to be amputated.

The development of a trial vaccine is being hailed as a major breakthrough.

At present there are vaccines for HIB meningitis, pneumococcal meningitis —

introduced this year for under-twos - and meningitis C, but a vaccine for

the B strain of the disease has so far been elusive.

This is because the meningitis B bacteria can mutate, leading to the

creation of several sub-strains.

Scientists have now been able to develop a vaccine that is effective against

such mutations. Previously this problem had hindered them starting human

trials.

The research into creating the vaccine has been aided by a mapping of the

genes responsible for meningitis. With all the genes identified, scientists

have been able to single out the parts of the bacteria most suitable for use

in the vaccine.

The trial is being supervised by the Health Protection Agency and the

vaccine has been made by the drug company Novartis. So far no side effects

have identified.

" Meningitis B is the most feared of all the meningitis bacteria because it

not only results in death but causes so much damage to those who survive, "

says Professor Parvis Habibi of St 's Hospital in London.

" For the scientists to have got to the stage of a vaccine that is being

trialled in children is a significant moment. We now have to hope that it is

effective enough to gain a licence. "

In the illness, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord become

inflamed. The viral form of meningitis is milder and usually needs no

treatment, but bacterial meningitis can be life-threatening.

Paediatrician Dr Pollard, of University of Oxford, is coordinating

the trial. " An effective vaccine would be a huge step forward, " he says.

" The key question is how effective it is. That will not be known until next

summer when the first results of the trial emerge. "

But Glenny, of the Meningitis Research Foundation, warns that the

vaccine is still some way from being widely available.

" A vaccine is probably still four of five years away so parents have to be

vigilant for the tell tale signs of the disease, " she says. " We are moving

into the winter period which is the peak time for meningitis. "

Symptoms include leg pain, cold hands and feet, mottled skin, headaches, a

stiff neck and sensitivity to light.

The introduction of the pneumococcal meningitis jab this year led to claims

children were facing 'vaccine overload', which some scientists believe may

cause diabetes, asthma and other immune-related diseases.

But experts say the majority of parents would have no trouble in backing a

vaccine for meningitis B.

Ms Glenny says: " If you saw the little child who has had limbs amputated due

to meningitis B you would be all for the vaccine. There have been very few

if any safety or side effect issues around the existing meningitis

vaccines. "