Meningococcal W Claims Fifth Victim in Australia

Another person has died from meningococcal disease in Perth Australia, almost doubling the number of cases during 2016.

The woman, in her 20s, became the fifth victim of the W strain of the meningococcal disease, according to local health officials.

The Australian Health Department (AHD) said there have been 40 cases of identified strains of the meningococcal disease in 2017, compared with 23 cases last year and 3 deaths.

The AHD said 18 of the 40 meningococcal cases during 2017 has been the W strain, well above the national average of one case per year.

Of the remaining 22 cases, 12 were B strain, eight were Y strain, one was C strain and one was unknown.

There have been another 80 cases of meningococcal, of which the serotype is unknown.

Since the introduction in 2003 of the meningococcal C (MenC) vaccine on the National Immunisation Program, the overall incidence of invasive meningococcal disease in Australia has been low.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) warned that the number of cases could grow because spring and early summer are the peak seasons for meningococcal disease.

AMA WA president Omar Khorshid called on the Federal Government to consider free vaccinations for babies against all strains of the disease, according to reporting by Perth Now. 

Despite the spike in the W strain in Perth and other parts of the world, the overall rate of meningococcal has fallen from three cases per 100,000 people in 1999 to one case per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Even when treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 15 infected people out of 100.  

And of those who survive, about 10 to 20 out of every 100 will suffer disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidney damage, amputations, nervous system problems, or severe scars from skin grafts, says the WHO.

Meningococcal ACWY vaccines can help prevent meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

There are two kinds of meningococcal vaccines licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for protection against serogroups A, C, W, and Y:

• meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY)
• meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4)

Two doses of MenACWY are routinely recommended for adolescents 11 through 18 years old: the first dose at 11 or 12 years old, with a booster dose at age 16.  

Some adolescents, including those with HIV, should get additional doses.

MenACWY is the preferred vaccine for people in these groups who are 2 months through 55 years old, have received MenACWY previously, or anticipate requiring multiple doses.

MPSV4 is recommended for adults older than 55 who anticipate requiring only a single dose (travelers, or during community outbreaks).

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector vaccine prices for general information.

Meningococcal discounts can be found here.