Scotland: Meningitis death assurance issued

January 7, 2009

Unusual take on this one.....if it's so benign and so *un-communicable*, why

is there a vaccine? They ought to be clambering over themselves to send all

contacts off for a VAX! Undoubtedly other issues.

Meningitis death assurance issued

Experts have said there is no public health risk after tests confirmed

meningitis as the cause of death in a young woman from southern Scotland.

Emma Hepburn, 17, was found dead in supported accommodation at Hope Place in

Dumfries on Friday.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway public health consultant Dr Breen said tests

had shown a pneumococcal infection as the cause of her death.

He stressed that this meant there was no danger of any spread of the disease

" The laboratory has just told us late yesterday afternoon that the diagnosis

is, in fact, a pneumococcal infection, " he said.

" What it means is there are no public health implications here.

" There is no need for any antibiotics and there is no need for people to

worry that this infection can spread to them, their children or anybody else

"

Commonly carried

Pneumococcal meningitis is the second most common type of bacterial

meningitis in the UK and Ireland, and in some countries it is the main type

of meningitis.

The bacteria are quite commonly carried, and are more likely to cause

earache, pneumonia and less serious illnesses than meningitis.

Pneumococcal meningitis is not considered to be contagious.

Most cases are in children under two years old and adults with specific

problems such as head injuries, diseases of the blood or circulation, or

immune deficiency.

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