[user104658]

Not the sudden death of 117 teens Kizzy, it's 117 cases not 117 deaths. Meningitis is scary, granted, but despite the horror stories, the facts are that the majority of people recover from viral meningitis (including this strain). Most people (as in more than half) would actually recover spontaneously without treatment of any kind.

Bacterial meningitis, untreated, is often fatal but Bacterial meningitis can't be vaccinated against - because it's not a virus. It is a killer but its a totally separate condition not related to the type of meningitis mentioned in this story (viral).

Take this sort of "disease scaremongering" with a hefty pinch of salt. Always.

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Not the sudden death of 117 teens Kizzy, it's 117 cases not 117 deaths. Meningitis is scary, granted, but despite the horror stories, the facts are that the majority of people recover from viral meningitis (including this strain). Most people (as in more than half) would actually recover spontaneously without treatment of any kind.

Bacterial meningitis, untreated, is often fatal but Bacterial meningitis can't be vaccinated against - because it's not a virus. It is a killer but its a totally separate condition not related to the type of meningitis mentioned in this story (viral).

Take this sort of "disease scaremongering" with a hefty pinch of salt. Always.

I am agreeing with Toy Soldier for once here. Yes Meningitis is making a comeback, but the deadly form is the bacterial version. There is a degree of "scaremongering" going on here, and with that is allusion that he medical community is putting forth of protection, much like the flu vaccine which can only guess at which strains to immunize with.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Not the sudden death of 117 teens Kizzy, it's 117 cases not 117 deaths. Meningitis is scary, granted, but despite the horror stories, the facts are that the majority of people recover from viral meningitis (including this strain). Most people (as in more than half) would actually recover spontaneously without treatment of any kind.

Bacterial meningitis, untreated, is often fatal but Bacterial meningitis can't be vaccinated against - because it's not a virus. It is a killer but its a totally separate condition not related to the type of meningitis mentioned in this story (viral).

Take this sort of "disease scaremongering" with a hefty pinch of salt. Always.

Right ... thanks for that.

I don't believe the NHS have huge wads of money to waste on things that aren't important therefor I feel that this must have caused enough concern to warrant this action.

'There has been a year-on-year increase in the number of meningitis cases caused by MenW since 2009, and infection has been associated with particularly severe disease and high fatality rates in teenagers and young adults. The increasing trend looks set to continue unless action is taken, so the government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the body that advises on vaccination for England and Wales, has advised that immunisation against MenW should be routinely offered to all 14 to 18 year-olds.'

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2015/03March/...eningitis.aspx