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UK Has Eliminated Meningitis C Deaths in Children and Teenagers

by Rajshri on Apr 22 2008 3:55 PM

In a major achievement, the UK seems to have eradicated deaths from a specially mean strain of meningitis, an official health report has revealed.

The eradication of deaths caused by the disease will be seen as a breakthrough in the battle to fight meningitis, say experts.

However, campaigners have cautioned that further work is required to combat meningitis - as a vaccine to eliminate its deadliest and most common strain is still not available to the public.

The report has revealed that no deaths occurred from meningitis C among under-19s in the past 12 months, the first time zero mortality rates have been recorded.

Since the introduction of a vaccine, administered via a national programme, in 1999, there has been a sharp decline in cases of meningitis C.

Before the introduction of the programme, around 30 under-19s were dying from meningitis C every 12 months, while just under 300 a year were being diagnosed with the disease.

"The NHS of the future is about preventing illness and disease, not just treating them when they occur," The Telegraph quoted a senior Government source, as saying.

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Source-ANI
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