National case studies: England and Wales
Cieran Burke
Five-year-old Cieran had meningitis aged just 38 weeks. He recovered but is profoundly deaf, he has a cochlear implant but it doesn't do much i.e. little speech, slight Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy and is currently undergoing assessment for ADHD and autism.
Megan McClure - Bournemouth
Nicky's daughter Megan had GBS meningitis 2004 aged 21 months. She recovered but has a weakened immune system as a result of the disease.
Leo Steel - Surrey
Lucy’s son Leo suffered from Group B Meningococcal meningitis (MenB) in May 08 aged just 8 months. He was critically ill but somehow pulled through to make a full recovery.
London
Mette Mitchell - Fulham
Mette's daughter Miko recovered from meningitis twice aged 4 and 6 months. She made a good recovery.
Marisa Baker
Marisa's daughter Elouisa had GBS aged just 5 days. She recovered.
Hazel Lambert - Reading
Hazel's son Frank suffered from Group B Strep meningitis in 2005 aged just 8 days. He survived with after-effects.
Elizabeth Slocombe - Reading
Elizabeth's son Alistair suffered from pneumococcal meningitis aged 8 months at Christmas 2003. He recovered but has after-effects.
South West
Berry family - Bridgwater
Craig and Anthea Berry's son Ethan died from Meningococcal meningitis in 2004 aged just 12 months.
Victoria Ilina - Miss Cheltenham
Victoria suffered from bacterial meningitis in 1986 aged just 5 and a half months. She recovered but was left deaf, but has faced her challenges and recently won Miss Cheltenham 2009-10.
Cross family - Devon
Sisters Lydia and Millie from Braunton suffered from meningitis within two weeks of each other aged 7 months and 3 yrs respectively. Millie made a full recovery but Lydia lost both her legs.
Fowles family - Bristol
Kirsty and Matthew Fowles' from Warmley. Their son Mason suffered from
bacterial meningitis in March 2006 aged two months. He made a full
recovery.
Gemma Allen - Dursley
Gemma's daughter Isabella had pneumococcal meningitis in December 2006
aged 4 months. She survived but has been left with hearing loss and
mild epilepsy.
Laura Leonard - Winterbourne Bristol
Laura's daughter Lydia had pneumococcal meningitis aged 9 months 2001. She made a good recovery.
South East
South
Marie Cavie
Marie lost her daughter Sophie to BGS meningitis in 2007. She was just 6 days old.
Leesa Yeo
Leesa's daughter Isabel had Group B Meningococcal meningitis aged just 18 hours. She recovered with after-effects.
Dunbar family - Essex
Janine Dunbar's son Joseph had pneumococcal meningitis
Berryman family - Brighton
Toby and Caroline’s son Zachary died from meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia in January 2005 aged just 15 months.
Charlotte Myall - Suffolk
Baby Ruby - who is now four - contracted pneumococcal meningitis just before Christmas 2005 aged just 21 weeks. After effects: Damage to hearing.
Haisman family - Bucks
Louise's son James had meningitis in 1999 aged just four months. He survived to make a good recovery.
Helen Davies - Aylesbury
Helen's sons Dillon and Joshua both suffered from meningitis in infancy. Both recovered.
Rob Jordan - Guernsey
Rob's daughter April died from meningitis in 1992 aged 7.5 months.
Nicky McClure - Bournemouth
Nicky's daughter Megan had GBS meningitis 2004 aged 21 months. She recovered but has a weakened immune system as a result of the disease.
Lucy Steel - Oxsted, Surrey
Lucy’s son Leo suffered from Group B Meningococcal meningitis (MenB) in May 08 aged just 8 months. He was critically ill but miraculously pulled through to make a full recovery.
Walter family - Newbury Berks
Paul and Janet’s son Toby died 23 Feb 1993 aged 1yr, on the anniversary of his christening. He suffered from pneumococcal meningitis.
East Anglia
Charlotte Myall - Suffolk
Baby Ruby - who is now four - contracted pneumococcal meningitis just before Christmas 2005 aged just 21 weeks. Thankfully she recovered.
Gotts family - Colchester
Daughter Jemma suffered from meningitis on 18 July 1997. She was critically ill but went on to make a full recovery.
Dunbar family - Essex
Janine Dunbar's son Joseph had pneumococcal meningitis. He made a good recovery.
West Midlands
Wendy Piper - Coventry
Son Joseph died in November 2002 from pneumococcal meningitis aged just
11 weeks old.
Claire Evans
Son Ioan had GBS aged 4 weeks. Thankfully he recovered.
Vicki Eaton - Hereford
Twins Maggie and Hazel had viral meningitis in June 2008 aged just 8 days. Thankfully both recovered with some after-effects.
Jasvinder Bharj - Birmingham
Jasvinder's daughter Amrit died 2006 from pneumococcal meningitis. She was only 6 months old.
Donna Reid - Worcester
Donna's son Liam suffered from Group B Streptococcal meningitis (GBS) in 2005 at 6 wks old. Liam pulled through but has been left with suspected autism, joint problems and a sensitivity to noise.
East Midlands
North West
Sharon France - Rotherham
Son Richard had pneumococcal meningitis aged 7 months in 1996.
Kate French - Sheffield
Kate and James lost their baby son Declan on 19th July 2005, as a result of contracting Pneumococcal meningitis.
Fiona Culleton - Lancaster
Son James Park suffered from meningococcal septicaemia in February 2006 aged 7 months. Thankfully James recovered, but has been left with severe after-effects.
Paula Brook - W Yorks
Paula's son Reuben suffered from meningococcal meningitis aged just 6 months. He survived with severe after-effects.
Susan Burke - Merseyside
Susan’s son Cieran suffered meningococcal meningitis aged 9 months.
Walsh family - Wakefield
Son Mikey developed GBS in April 2008. Thankfully he recovered.
Jude Tarn - Penrith
Jude's daughter Lia-Rose tragically died from GBS meningitis in 2005.
North East
Vardy family - Tyne and Wear
Rachael’s son Finlay James Vardy suffered from meningococcal meningitis in August 2008 aged 7 months. Rachael rushed him to hospital as his condition worsened and doctors managed to save him.
Wales
Carolyn Williams
Carolyn’s son Alfie suffered from pneumococcal meningitis aged just four months.
Scotland
Adalaine Bryson
Adelaine's son suffered from GBS meningitis
Lee Thorburn
Lee had listeria meningitis aged 1 week in 1998. He survived but is left with epilepsy, cerebral palsy, learning difficulties and sensitive hearing.
Daniel Ferries
Daniel suffered from meningitis in 2006 aged 5 months.
Katelyn McGrotty
Katelyn had meningococcal septicaemia in 1999 aged four months. Thankfully she recovered.
- Scotland statistics - meningitis and septicaemia are diseases that affect 97 babies a year under the age of 12 months in Scotland1,2,3 , of whom one in ten will die and about a quarter are left with life-altering effects that can be as severe as brain damage, deafness, cerebral palsy and multiple amputations; furthermore babies in Scotland under 12 months are 40 times more likely to develop meningitis than children over one and adults1,2,3.
1. 2008 Meningococcal, Pnuemococcal and Haemophilus Influenzae figures: Health Protection Scotland.
2. Group B Streptococcal Figures: Estimate based on Research into UK Prevalence and Scottish population in 2008.
3. 2008 Other Bacterial Figures, Health Protection Scotland, Extrapolation of HPA figures.
Northern Ireland
Jamie Cowey
Baby Jamie died from meningococcal meningitis in 2004 aged 9 months.
Geraldine Dunn
Geraldine's daughter Caoimhe suffered from meningitis as a baby. Thankfully she recovered.
Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland statistics - meningitis and septicaemia are diseases that affect 88* babies a year
under the age of 12 months in Republic of Ireland, of whom one in ten will die and
about a quarter are left with life-altering effects that can be as
severe as brain damage, deafness, cerebral palsy and multiple
amputations; furthermore babies in under 12 months are 29*
times more likely to develop meningitis than children over one and
adults. * Source: Health Surveillance Protection Centre
Statistics and vaccine information
Get the latest disease information including statistics on cases in England and Wales for in recent years
here. Information on preventing the diseases including details of vaccination schedules are
here.
Symptoms information
Illustrate the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and highlight the early-warning red-flag symptoms with the MRF
symptoms card,
Baby Watch information card, and our
Tot-Watch leaflet.
Case Studies
We have MRF members around the country who are keen to share their experiences of meningitis and septicaemia with the media to help promote awareness of these devastating illnesses. Here are some
examples. Contact our
Communications Team to source case studies in your local area.
Symptoms information by SMS text message
To send symptoms information by SMS text to a mobile phone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, visit our
SMS launch page. Preview the SMS video
here.