News & Events
Here's all the latest news from Meningitis UK as well as a round-up of why meningitis has been hitting the headlines.
Meningitis UK launches 'Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign'
On the 4th April 2007, Meningitis UK launched the Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign. The launch date - the fourth day of the fourth month - signifies the devastating fact that meningitis can kill in under 4 hours. The aim of the campaign is to raise £7 million over the next seven years to help fund cutting-edge research to develop a vaccine against Meningitis B, which causes almost 90% of cases in the UK and for which there is currently no vaccine.
To find out more about the campaign, go to the Meningitis UK campaigns page
New Weapon in the fight against Meningitis 
A meningitis scare and the anguish of finding a rash on her child prompted a nurse and her sister to design their own unique medical tool. Spotmate is the brainchild of Janet Lawrence and Ann-Marie Watson and is about to go on the market after being researched and developed in the West Midlands. The device has been developed in association with the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust's Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Development (CHID) and is backed by Meningitis UK.
Spotmate is a multipurpose product featuring a curved bar to recreate the tumbler test and a magnifying lens to assist in self examination of other ailments. Spotmate can be used on all ages, including babies, and is designed to be an essential part of family health care in the home. A booklet will accompany the device, which enables people to understand what they are looking at and gives guidance on seeking further advice.
Janet, aged 37, developed the idea with her 30-year-old sister Ann-Marie after a meningitis scare involving one of her own children. Her daughter didn't have meningitis but it prompted the pair to develop Spotmate. Janet sees Spotmate as a worldwide product, a multi-purpose device which can be used by anyone, from health professionals to parents in a home environment. Families are not expected to make a diagnosis but this product can increase their awareness.
Research into the potentially fatal bacteria infection will benefit from the sale of Spotmate. A donation from the sale of each produce sold will go towards Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign.
Spotmate will be on sale to the general public following a national launch in Summer 2008. All advance enquiries should be directed to the Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Development on 01902 695111.
Meningitis UK Chief Executive Steve Dayman (back left), Brian Millar, Medical Director Newcross Hospital Wolverhampton (back right), together with Ann-Marie Watson (front left) and Janet Lawrence (front right).
More than a third of the UK doesn't understand the importantance of vaccination
Recent research suggests that more than a third of the people in the UK are not aware of the diseases which can be prevented by vaccination, therefore putting themselves and others at risk. Findings showed that more than one third of respondents incorrectly believed there was currently a vaccine available for meningitis B, which causes almost 90% of all cases in the UK and for which there is no vaccine.
New Hib Booster catch-up campaign
Meningitis UK are warning parents to be vigilant of the fact that not all children are fully protected against Hib meningitis. From 10th September 2007, the Department of Health will be running a Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination catch-up programme to offer the Hib booster to young children who were born between 13 March 2003 and 3 September 2005. The programme will run until 3rd March 2009.
Recognising meningitis in feverish young children
Anthony Harnden, lecturer at Oxford University controversially writes about the difficulty in recognising serious illness, such as meningitis in feverish young children in primary care. Meningitis UK wholeheartedly agrees with the recommendations given in the article about prompt clinical assessment, and making it easy for parents to consult again if the symptoms deteriorate.
Anne Corbett receives Medical Research Council prize for her essay after finding inspiration at Meningitis UK's Search 4 a vaccine Campaign launch
Anne Corbett, a researcher in the meningitis field at Imperial College London attended the Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign launch in London this April. Anne was particularly moved by the speech of Quentin Stott, a father who lost his son Dylan in August 2005 in less than 4 hours to meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia. This tragic story inspired Anne to write an essay about the devastation of meningitis and the difficulty of finding the Meningitis B vaccine. After entering her essay into the Medical Research Council's essay competition, she won and had her essay published in The Guardian.
Two Spring Walks for 2008
After the success of the Spring Walk in Northern Ireland in 2007, Meningitis UK announces two Spring Walks in 2008. One will follow the same route in Northern Ireland from Londonderry to Newry. The other will follow a route from Blackpool to Bridlington (as done in 2006).
Jane Seymour becomes a patron of Meningitis UK
Meningitis UK are proud to announce Jane Seymour and her husband James Keach as the charities new patrons.
Latest Newsletter
To find out about our latest research and what's been happening at Meningitis UK plus what our friends and supporters have been doing to help, please read our latest newsletter.
You can also read our accompanying Spring 2008 Appeal Letter
To see past newsletters, please see our newsletter archive.
News and Media
To see our latest press releases and statements, as well as our media archive, please visit our Media Centre
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