The outbreak of meningitis in Co Westmeath should remind young people in particular to be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis, a potentially deadly form of the disease, a health specialist has said.
Public health statistics show the incidence of meningococcal meningitis in the Republic, at 14 per 100,000 of the population, to be nearly three times the comparable rate for the UK, five per 100,000, said Dr Phil Jennings, public health specialist with the Midland Health Board.
Between 3 and 6 per cent of patients die if they contract the meningococcal strain, a bacterial form of the disease, said Dr Jennings. The "MC" vaccine against meningococcal meningitis has been on the market for the past two years. It is available free from GPs for people up to the age of 22.
The vaccine has proved to be an effective deterrent against the disease in Britain. Public health experts are hopeful that it will be equally successful in the Republic, said Dr Jennings.
The three cases of viral meningitis, in teenagers at the Longford-Westmeath General Hospital, were less serious than the bacterial forms of the disease, he said. One of the three had now been discharged. "It is not uncommon to get increased incidences of viral meningitis in the late summer or early autumn," she added.
The disease was contagious. The three patients came from the same area and had been in contact with each other. Viral meningitis, however, could occur as a single, isolated case as well as in clusters.
Young people were the main targets of the disease, but adults could also be affected. There had been an increase in the number of cases nationally, said Dr Jennings.
Parents should be aware that the viruses were readily transmitted by the faecal-oral route and by direct contact with respiratory secretions. "Careful hand-washing before eating and after use of the toilet is important in helping to prevent spread."
A fourth case being treated at the hospital concerned a man in his 50s with pneumococcal meningitis, a bacterial form of the disease. This occurred in single, isolated cases and was not a cause of public health concern, Dr Jennings emphasised.
Although the incidence is relatively rare, GPs regard it as a serious form of meningitis. It is, however, different from meningococcal meningitis, which gives rise to the most serious concern for public health.
Meningitis symptoms could vary considerably and need not all occur at the same time, Dr Jennings pointed out. Often patients would need to be hospitalised to determine which strain of the disease they had.
Parents should look out for symptoms such as headaches, fever, vomiting, neck stiffness, joint and muscular pains. A marked dislike of fluids and unwillingness to drink anything might be an indication in younger children. If the parents were worried they should check with the family doctor.