Immunisation reduces meningitis

A new routine immunisation programme has had a considerable effect in decreasing the rates of meningitis.

The new vaccine is being given to children and adolescents in Canada and is targeting a specific strain of the infectious disease, a study in the new issue of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal has revealed.

Areas introducing the childhood meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MenC) vaccine cut meningitis cases in the country from 96 in 2002 to 68 in 2006, increasing hope that it could be used successfully in other areas of the world.

The researchers, led by Julie A. Bettinger of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver stated: "We found that the decrease in serogroup C incidence was primarily the result of a substantial decrease in provinces that started earlier immunization programs.

"In those provinces, the rate of serogroup C disease decreased by more than 80 per cent, compared to no change in provinces where MenC vaccination was introduced later."

The National Meningitis Association claims that there are around 3,000 cases of meningitis in the US every year.

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