Public ‘must not drop guard in fight against meningitis’

THERE were 14 deaths from meningitis last year — up two on 2002 — a reminder we can never become complacent, Minister of State at the Department of Health Ivor Callely warned yesterday.

Mr Callely was speaking at the launch in Dublin the Meningitis Awareness Campaign, jointly organised by the Meningitis Research Foundation and Boots, to ensure that people do not lower their guard against the disease.

Provisional figures from the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) show there were 275 cases of bacterial meningitis reported last year, compared to 297 cases in 2002.