Re: Number of meningitis cases drops significantly, HealthSupplement, July 17th
Dear Sir,
I write in response to a report about the significant reduction in cases of meningitis in Ireland since the introduction of the MenC vaccine in 2000. This has been a tremendous success and has saved many lives by reducing cases of MenC by 97 per cent.
Meningitis Research Foundation would like to remind readers that vigilance is still required, especially against the MenB serogroup for which there is currently no vaccine available.
This strain has sadly claimed a number of very young lives already this year. Meningitis and septicaemia, the blood poisoning form of the disease, can strike anyone at anytime.
We hope that pneumococcal vaccine will be introduced, as recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), and that we will see a similar reduction in pneumococcal meningitis.
Pneumococcal meningitis has the highest fatality rate of all forms of meningitis. The incidence of pneumococcal meningitis has been consistent for the past 10 years in Ireland.
Meningitis Research Foundation provides a range of resources for both the general public and healthcare professionals. For information contact our 24-hour Freefone Helpline on 1800-413344 or log onto www.meningitis.org
Clodagh Brennock, Medical Information Officer, Meningitis Research Foundation, Gardiner Street, Dublin 1
Re: Front page photograph, HealthSupplement, July 24th
Dear Sir,
Last week, you showed a photograph of John Gormley with two potential cyclists.
In the event of an accident many helmets would be completely useless as they are worn in the manner of the photograph. The helmet must be worn down over the eyebrows, this way it protects both the face and the back of the head, rather than leaving the face totally expose.
It is frightening how many people cycle around in the belief that they are protected when in fact the helmet might as well have been left at home for all the good it is when worn incorrectly.
May DuBerry, 6 Woodlands Avenue, Stillorgan, Co Dublin
Re: HealthSupplement, July 10th
Dear Sir,
Two articles on the front page of the HealthSupplement(July 10th) "Rise in obesity is set to drive diabetes levels up by 37 per cent" and "Tobacco, alcohol and lifestyle biggest killers in the EU" made interesting if unsurprising reading.
It's not difficult to see where all this ill-health and disease is coming from if one were to look at the TV any evening and observe the gospel being preached by the ad men. Eat, drink and be merry, sit on your arse and watch "Reality TV".
What we have is a sickness rather than a health service which treats people when they become ill and does precious little prevention. The most positive piece of legislation on health was enacted by the previous minister when he introduced the Bill to ban smoking in the workplace.
That will have a more positive effect on the nation's health than any increase in beds, nurses, doctors, pills, etc. There is no sign that the present incumbent is willing to take on the other two great purveyors of ill health, the alcohol and food industries.
The best investment would be a seriously funded health promotion agency which would engage some of the top ad men who can sell us anything, including a healthy lifestyle.
James Moran, Knockanure, Bunclody, Co Wexford