Students preparing to enter university this year are being warned to protect against a potentially deadly infection.
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection known to cause two serious illnesses: meningitis and septicaemia.
Although it is uncommon, it can be life-threatening.
About one in every ten patients who contract the disease will die and up to one in five survivors will be left with permanent disabilities such as brain damage, amputated limbs or hearing loss.
The Institute of Environmental Science and Research reports show that since 2019 there have been 364 cases of meningococcal disease, including 21 fatalities.
Māori and Pacific peoples are the ethnic groups most at risk, accounting for over half of the meningococcal disease cases (195 out of 364) reported since 2019.
From 2023 to October 2024, 15- to 24-year-olds recorded the highest number of cases (24) among the seven age groups monitored by the institute.
The University of Otago is advising students to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease before they begin studies.
University of Otago Student Health Services registered nurse Aleisha Telford said very early signs and symptoms were much like other viruses such as influenza.
That could include headache, body aches and fever.
Teenagers and adults might also experience a stiff neck or a worsening headache despite pain relief.
They might experience confusion, sleepiness, light sensitivity and possibly vomiting.
A non-blanching rash could appear with meningitis, though not always.
Students could get vaccinated now either at their home medical practice, their university or polytechnic health service or at pharmacies offering vaccinations, Mrs Telford said.
Vaccinations are not funded for everyone, but they are funded for New Zealand citizens or residents aged 13–25 who are entering their first year in a residential college or other close living situations such as boarding schools, army barracks, youth justice facilities or prison.
For all others, vaccinations are at their own cost but are highly recommended.
There was some confusion among parents and students who believed they were already protected by earlier vaccination efforts, Mrs Telford said.
Many young people were vaccinated against meningococcal B between 2004 and 2011, when a different vaccine was developed to manage a specific strain of the meningococcal B epidemic in New Zealand in the early 2000s, but immunity from that was not expected to be long lasting.
There seemed to be a lack of understanding that this was just a single strain of meningococcal B and the vaccine created at the time was simply to help through that epidemic and was not intended to give lifelong protection, she said.
"Those children immunised during that last epidemic are now in our high-risk adolescent age group and it is recommended they are vaccinated again."
She recommended students receive vaccination against Meningococcal B (2 doses) and Meningococcal A, C, W & Y (1 dose) to ensure the best possible protection.
Do not wait
If you suspect you or someone close to you may have meningitis, seek medical review at your medical centre, urgent care or the emergency department.
Do not wait.
Regardless of where you seek care, make sure you highlight that you are concerned about meningitis and describe the symptoms of concern.
Free health advice is available at Healthline by visiting healthy.org.nz or phoning 0800611-116.
