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Group B meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia vaccine
At Meningitis Research Foundation's international conference on 7 & 8 November 2007, data were presented which indicated that a vaccine to protect against MenB (Group B meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia) could be launched within the next 3 to 4 years.
Meningitis Research Foundation welcomes this very positive news as this vaccine looks set to offer broader protection than any other MenB vaccine so far. MenB vaccines available to date have been formulated to protect against particular substrains responsible for localised epidemics of the disease in certain countries.
It is expected that this new vaccine will have a significant impact on disease levels in the UK and world-wide, protecting against the MenB strains that cause the most disease. Solving the problem of MenB is far more complex than prevention of other major types of meningitis for which successful vaccines currently exist. Although this new vaccine represents a major step forward, the challenge of universal prevention of all strains of MenB remains, so awareness of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia will still be important to enable early diagnosis and treatment.
Media Contact: Julia Warren 01454 281811 or 07711 057875
Notes to Editor :
- Meningitis Research Foundation currently funds 18 research projects. Since it was founded in 1989, the charity has awarded 118 research grants, leading to many advances in the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia.
- Meningitis Research Foundation operates a Freefone 24 hour helpline - 080 8800 3344 - providing information on meningitis and septicaemia to the general public and health professionals.
Symptoms of meningitis:
Fever; vomiting; severe headache; rash (not present in all cases); stiff neck*; dislike of bright lights*; very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious; seizures (fits) may also be seen. (*Unusual in young children.)
Symptoms of septicaemia (blood poisoning form of the disease):
Fever; vomiting; limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes stomach pain/diarrhoea); pale or mottled skin; cold hands and feet; shivering; breathing fast/breathless; rash (anywhere on the body); very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious.
Other symptoms in babies include: tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot); refusing to feed; being irritable when picked up with a high pitched or moaning cry; a stiff body with jerky movements or else floppy and lifeless.