• Be Vigilant!

    Hawke’s Bay school nurse Caryn Williams is warning parents & young adults to be vigilant about the transmission and symptoms of meningococcal disease as the school year resumes! “New Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) data shows the number of cases of meningococcal disease among Kiwi teenagers and young adults increased by 88 per […]

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  • Get Vaccinated!

    There are two vaccines that you should make sure you have to protect you against meningococcal disease. Symptoms of fever, severe headache, vomiting, confusion, muscle weakness, stiff neck, rash etc. may sometimes feel like a bad hangover or mild illness. Meningitis and septicemia can kill so contact your doctor to learn about vaccines to protect yourself […]

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  • Invasive Meningococcal Disease

    Manitoba Public Health officials have identified a recent increase in the number of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections presenting as either meningitis or bacteremia (infection in the bloodstream). Healthy carriers, people can carry the bacteria in the back of their nose and throat without being ill, make up about […]

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  • Brush with Death!

    Lachy Wright, 18-year-old Frankston teenager almost died when he contracted the B strain of the meningococcal disease. His mild symptoms progressed quickly and within 2 days was taken to the hospital & placed in a coma. He has been vaccinated against strains A, C, W and Y but not the B vaccine. Eligibility criteria to […]

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  • Act Quickly!

    The Public Health Agency (PHA) in Newry is calling people to be vigilant of the signs and symptoms of meningitis, a potentially life threatening illness which is at its highest during the winter months. Louise Flanagan, Consultant in PHA states, “The symptoms are often non-specific. In the early stages it could be mistaken for other […]

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  • Ohio Outbreak

    The Ohio Jefferson General Health District confirmed 2 cases of meningococcal disease, A third suspected case is awaiting results, all children. These children do not attend the public school system. People do not catch the bacteria through casual contact or by breathing the air where someone infected with meningococcal disease has been. Stay up to […]

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  • Empowerment through Experience

    Mel Groenewold was only 17 when she lost four limbs to meningococcal disease. For a long time after that, Mel was angry and frustrated by all the things her body could no longer do. It took years and a lot of therapy to work through her emotional & physical struggles. After over a decade of […]

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  • Quad Amputee to Climb Embsay Crag

    Luke Mortimer , 10-year-old quad amputee contracted meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia when he was only seven. After years of painful surgeries, wound care, endless sessions of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, learning to walk & run on prosthetic legs and getting his robotic arm, he’s ready to attempt the gruelling task of climbing Embsay Crag. Ever since […]

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  • Pentavalent Vaccine

    Penbraya from the components of 2 meningococcal vaccines Trumenba (against group B) & Nimenrix (against A, C, W-135 and Y) is the first pentavalent vaccine developed by Pfizer. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Penbraya, the only vaccine that provides coverage against the five most common serogroups causing meningococcal disease in adolescents and […]

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  • Know the Facts about Meningitis!

    Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacteria N. meningitidis, a highly contagious infection with symptoms such as high fever, severe headache and skin rash that appear suddenly. It can have serious complications if not treated promptly. Dr. Daniel Alcántara, pediatrician and spokesperson for Una Vida Por Dakota states, “Meningitis is a very dangerous disease that […]

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