http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/2002/08/03/FFX4AKEFE4D.html

Thousands at risk of meningitis in UK

|Published: Saturday August 3, 6:05 PM

Thousands of people in the UK will be vaccinated against meningitis over fears that some hearing devices could lead to an increased risk from the deadly disease, it emerged.

The Medical Devices Agency issued new advice on the potential risk of bacterial meningitis in people who have cochlear implants.

These consist of an electrode permanently implanted into the inner ear which receives information by radio waves from a separate microphone and electronic unit.

It emerged this week that there has been a reported increase in the number of cases of bacterial meningitis worldwide in patients with cochlear implants.

There have been around 25 cases diagnosed in patients aged between 21 months and 63 years, but only one suspected case in the UK which was successfully treated.

The MDA has concluded that cochlear implant patients may be at increased risk from bacterial meningitis, especially where the person has not been vaccinated.

The Department of Health today said everyone with a cochlear implant would be offered a vaccine to protect them from the disease.

All patients and GPs will be notified and be offered the appropriate vaccine in due course.

All children under two will get the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar and people aged over two will get 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Dr Pat Troop, deputy chief medical officer, said cochlear implants had been highly successful in restoring hearing in profoundly deaf people.

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