The dangerous speed of Meningococcal

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Thu, 01 Sep 2011 7:00p.m.

The family of a Northland woman have spoken for the first time about almost losing her to meningococcal disease - a vicious disease that can kill within hours.

There has been a spate of meningococcal cases in northland - with four in just the past month and six so far this year.

Two Northlanders have died from it in recent weeks - an 18-year-old and a 14-month old toddler. An Auckland woman has also died.

The family of 45-year-old Leanne Tane now reveal that her quick actions may have saved her from the deadly bug.

She's been in intensive care for the past eleven days, and may lose a couple of fingers.

Watch Helen Vaughan’s report.

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Comments

06 Sep 2011 09:12a.m.

Nigel Bennett wrote:

Hi John, something seriously missing from your story is that there IS a quadrivalent vaccine available in NZ for type A,C,W,Y strains which is not funded but costs around $70. Our whole family has been immunised which I believe is a small price to pay.

02 Sep 2011 12:40p.m.

Penny Fletcher wrote:

Hi John, i watched your story last night on meningitis. Not sure if you remember me but i won the Mazda Foundation gift at xmas time 2010. I am a survivor of meningitis, i only had 2% chance of survival, lost both my legs and most of my left hand. It is really fightening for me hearing about all these cases of late.....i think how on earth did i survive? it will be 2 yrs for me in November and i know what these families are going through, it is a awful time.My thoughts are with them all, I really want to get out there and raise the awareness in schools etc. Somethink needs to happen, it is not just in babies & teenages anymore, i was 36yrs old and the cases lately have been out of the age bracket.