Subject: Death of University student (probable meningococcal disease)


The University advises staff and students with regret that a second year
undergraduate student died over the weekend of probable meningococcal
disease.

The Geography student lived in the UNITE Residence, Capital Gate, Daulby
Street, Liverpool L3.

The Consultant in Communicable Disease Control from the Health Protection
Agency (HPA) has advised us that there is no cause for alarm and that it is
safe for staff and students to continue to attend the University as normal.
The consultant and his team are identifying close contacts of the student
who need to be treated with antibiotics.

Further health information and advice can be obtained by phoning your own
GP or NHS Direct. The University will also be operating a helpline from 12
noon until 5.00pm today (Monday, 17 October) and from 9.00am to 5.00pm on
Tuesday, 18 October. The helpline phone number is 0151 794 2244.

If you specifically feel unwell with symptoms described in the additional
information below from the HPA, please contact your own GP or go
immediately to the Accident and Emergency department at the Royal Liverpool
University Hospital.

You may find the following information helpful:

- The meningococcal germ is common - about 1 in 10 people carry the germ in
their nose and throat without coming to harm. It is only spread from one
person to another by very close contact, usually within the family. It is
rare for someone to become ill after contact with the germ. Most people who
have contact with the germ become immune to the disease rather than
becoming ill with it.

- Antibiotics are usually only given to people who have been in close
contact with the patient in the 7 days before the patient became ill. The
antibiotics kill any meningococcal germs being carried in the nose and
throat. This helps to reduce the chance of close contacts getting ill with
meningococcal disease. Other people such as visitors, university friends
and classmates or teaching staff do not need antibiotics. In fact, giving
antibiotics to them may kill off helpful germs that protect us from
infection with the meningococcal germ.

- Most students will have been immunised against the meningitis C strain.
This vaccine is available to all people under 25 years of age; but you
still need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the commonest form of
meningococcal infection in this country, Group B, for which there is no
vaccine available yet.

- The chance of further cases is very small.

It is important to remember that we are all in contact with people carrying
this germ on a regular basis.

Further information is available from:

NHS Direct 0845 4647
National Meningitis Trust 24 hr information line 0845 6000 800
(24 hours local call rate)
Meningitis Research Foundation 0808 800 3344
(24 hours free phone)
Merseyside Meningitis Support Group 0151 424 4402


ADDITIONAL ADVICE FROM THE HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY


What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain. It is a rare but
very serious illness, though if it's picked up and treated early, most
people make a full recovery.

There are now two main types of bacterial meningitis in the UK. They are
named after the germs that cause the infections. The two types are:

- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal


What is Septicaemia?

Septicaemia is a form of blood poisoning, which may be caused by the same
germs that cause meningitis and often occurs with meningococcal meningitis.
Septicaemia is very serious and must be treated straight away: it is the
more life-threatening consequence of meningococcal infection.

The germ enters the body through the throat and travels through the blood.
In some cases, the germs multiply in the blood stream and cause blood
poisoning. This may happen on its own or with an attack of meningitis.


What are the symptoms of Meningitis and Septicaemia?

Meningitis is not easy to identify at first because the symptoms are
similar to those of flu. The disease develops quickly and the patient can
become seriously ill in just a few hours. The symptoms may not appear at
the same time and may be different in young babies, children and adults.

- Red or purple spots that do not fade under pressure
- Stiffness in the neck - can the person kiss his or her knee, or touch his
or her forehead to the knee
- Drowsiness or confusion
- A severe headache, vomiting, a temperature
- A dislike of bright light

With septicaemia a rash usually develops which can range from tiny red
spots to large blotchy bruises. Skin may be pale and clammy and the
patient may complain of limb or joint pains. The spots or bruises must be
taken seriously - call your doctor immediately.


How do you get Meningitis or Septicaemia?

The germs that cause these diseases are very common and live naturally in
the back of the nose and throat. People of any age can carry these germs
for weeks or months without becoming ill. It is only rarely that they
overcome the body's defences and cause meningitis or septicaemia.

Coughing, sneezing and kissing spread the germs, but they do not live for
more than a few seconds outside the body and are not easily passed from one
person to another. You cannot get meningococcal meningitis or septicaemia
from water supplies, swimming pools, factories or buildings. The
incubation period (ie the time between the germ entering the body and the
person becoming ill) is usually up to a week.

FCUK