A GUNNISLAKE mother is sharing her first-hand experience of meningitis and septicaemia with the local community during this week's national Meningitis Awareness Week, so everyone is aware of the symptoms. 

The Meningitis Research Foundation estimates that meningitis and septicaemia affect ten people in the UK and Ireland every day. They are deadly diseases that can strike without warning, killing one in ten, and leaving a quarter of survivors with life altering after-effects ranging from deafness and brain damage to loss of limbs. Children under five and students are most at risk, but the diseases can strike at any age and not all forms are currently covered by vaccines.

Amanda Warnett said: 'My daughter Aimee died of meningococcal septicaemia in August 1998 when she was only nine months. I feel that if the awareness of meningitis was as prominent then as today, maybe Aimee would have survived.

'She was admitted to hospital and no diagnosis or antibiotics were given until three days after her admission and four days later her life support was terminated.  

'Meningitis and septicaemia are diseases you never expect to happen, but when they strike they can be devastating not just for the person who falls sick, but for all their loved ones, family and friends. That's why I'm supporting Meningitis Awareness Week. Everyone needs to know about these diseases.'

Chris Head, chief executive of MRF said: 'Meningitis is a disease feared by most parents and rightly so, as the UK's child mortality rates are amongst the highest in Europe. A new vaccine for meningococcal B infection (Men B) is currently under consideration and may not be introduced because of costs.

'We are extremely disappointed by this and campaigning hard for a change of heart. Vaccines have almost eliminated many types of meningitis but meningitis and septicaemia still present a very real threat to our children. People are still not fully protected against all types, so being aware of the symptoms and acting fast is essential to saving lives.'

To find out more visit the MRF website: http://www.meningitis.org">www.meningitis.org or download the free iPhone App from: http://www.bit.ly/MRFapp">www.bit.ly/MRFapp