Raising awareness of deadly meningococcal disease

Doctors are warning parents – we could be in for one of the worst years for meningococcal disease in decades, with cases expected to rise over winter and even into spring.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Each stroke is strong, but beneath the surface a stark
reminder of the infection that almost took his life.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
I had Ninja Kopple in conjunction with septisenia and meningitis.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
He was thirteen. Like most cases, it started with flu
like symptoms one day.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
That evening, hooked up to everything in intensive cagin and
given a ninety seventy percent chance of dying.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
His near death experience inspiring him to greatness, winning bronze
at the Beijing Paralympics today joining forces with another champion swimmer,
Libby Triggett, a mum of five, warning parents to look
out for the signs.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
We as a society just assume that it's the rash.
The reality is, if you get to that point, that
is a really dire situations.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
One in ten will die, one in five are left
with severe injuries. Jacob Blackwell was twenty one years old.
He had headaches and vomiting. Mum Chelsea found him unconscious.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
So I never thought for a second that be Ninja
Kockle was any to do with this.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
He didn't have a rush. He spent almost a year
in hospital, now living with brain damage. Everything I had
to learn that we unsay and talk him. Fifty six
cases have already been reported across Australia this year, with
New South Wales and Queensland recording the most doctors worn.
Cases will rise and it could be one of the

(01:22):
worst years in decades. It's most common in winter and
early spring. There are vaccines available. Jennifer Beschwati seven News