Dr Kerryn Phelps, TODAY Health Editor, Channel Nine, with Steve Liebmann

LIEBMANN: What's the AMA's position on this? Should there be annual vaccinations or, as Dr Selvey says, would that not be adequate?

PHELPS: The AMA fully supports the public health measures that were being taken by Queensland Health and the other state health authorities. Where there is an identified related cluster of the same meningococcal strain, then they vaccinate that group of people And where there are very close contacts, for example, in the childcare situation, where you're likely to get people sharing cups and glasses and having very close contact as children do and childcare workers do, then they will give those children who are at risk a short burst of antibiotics.

LIEBMANN: So that this new vaccine that they're talking about in Britain wouldn't necessarily be suitable out here?

PHELPS: At this stage, as Dr Selvey said, we can vaccinate against the C-strain but not against the B-strain, and so a mass vaccination campaign would not work. It's really a matter of identifying where you are likely to get a cluster of cases and targetting that group.

LIEBMANN: Kerryn, doctors are still learning about this disease, but what do we know about it?

PHELPS: Well, we know it's a devastating disease, because it can come on frighteningly quickly, and that, I guess, is one of the reasons the message has to get out to parents, particularly if their children are showing signs of the disease, or adults can also get this disease and show signs. And, if we look at the symptoms…

LIEBMANN: Yes, what are they?

PHELPS: Well, they're a stiff neck, a fever, vomiting and a very characteristic rash which is like a purplish spot that comes out all over the body. Now, drowsiness is another symptom. So, if you get a cluster of any of those symptoms, say, headache, drowsiness, stiff neck, fever, you get along to your GP or the local hospital, or casualty department without delay, because any delay could cost a life.

LIEBMANN: And what about treatment?

PHELPS: Treatment is with immediate antibiotics, where if you go to the GP and they suspect the meningococcal disease they will give an intravenous shot of penicillin. If you're allergic to penicillin, they will give you a different type of antibiotic, which some GPs will keep on hand, or alternatively they will transfer you immediately to hospital, and that will be managed in hospital. It's also a very difficult call for GPs because, as you could imagine, the same season for meningococcal disease, which is late winter and early spring, is the same time we're seeing all the coughs and colds and influenza outbreaks.

LIEBMANN: So winter and early spring are the worst times?

PHELPS: Those are the worst times. And so we're having to make a judgement call about whether somebody who perhaps has a fever and a bit of a headache might have the early stage of meningococcal disease. The main thing is, if there is any doubt, you act on it.

LIEBMANN: What are the risks of contracting it?

PHELPS: Well, it's a very common bug, in that many people carry it in their nose and throat, and it causes no harm. Very few people get into trouble with the invasive form of the disease, and, as you heard, the cases in Australia only amount to the hundreds, and the deaths are about 10 per cent of that.

LIEBMANN: Although the number of cases have doubled in the last ten years.

PHELPS: Well, the interesting thing is the testing has improved. There is a new test, and so to be able to confirm that this particular strain of meningococcal disease was the cause of that person's illness or death has improved with time. So, there may well be some increase, but some of that might be accounted for by the improved testing.

LIEBMANN: Okay, so early intervention's the key word.

PHELPS: Absolutely critical.

LIEBMANN: Thanks, Kerryn.

PHELPS: Thank you, Steve.

Ends