Qld: Doctors hold grave fears for meningococcal victim

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2001
Qld: Doctors hold grave fears for meningococcal victim

By Chris Herde

BRISBANE, Aug 20 AAP - Former Wallaby prop Tony D'Arcy remains by the bedside of his
16-year-old son Christopher who is fighting for his life after contracting meningococcal
disease.

Brisbane doctors fear Christopher D'Arcy might not survive the disease.

The St Joseph's Nudgee College student had been selected in the Queensland schoolboy
rugby union side to play England this weekend.

This year the disease has claimed seven lives in Queensland, with another St Joseph's
Nudgee College student Daniel Laherty, 13, and 18-year-old Rockhampton woman Julie Anne
Morris being its latest victims.

Christopher remains in a critical condition with his father nearby after his return
from Ireland at the weekend.

Holy Spirit Private Hospital director of intensive care Dr Alan Henderson said today
the infection has been controlled but doctors were still trying to reduce the swelling
of Christopher's brain.

"I think there's a high chance that he will not survive the illness," Dr Henderson
told ABC Radio.

"That's probably the most likely scenario and that's what I've told his parents.

"They're devastated by the whole thing as you would be if your previously fit and healthy
young son has been taken by such a terrible illness."

After Christopher was taken to hospital it was found he had the same Group C strain
of the disease which killed Daniel on August 5.

On Friday, Queensland Health began an immunisation program at the northern Brisbane
school with around 90 per cent of the 1,800 staff and students vaccinated.

St Joseph's Nudgee College acting principal Mike Senior said the D'Arcy family had
advised the school that Christopher's condition was grave.

"While we are endeavouring to have school return to normal, everyone is saddened about
Chris and our thoughts and prayers constantly turn to him and his family," Mr Senior said.

Last week a 20-year-old Brisbane man came down with the disease and today Queensland
Health was advised that an elderly woman in Bundaberg was also hospitalised with meningococcal
disease.

Both were in a stable condition and they bring the total number of cases this year to 81.

The resurfacing of the meningococcal menace in the media has sparked widespread concern
with the Queensland Health hotline taking 2,100 phone calls since Friday night.

But Queensland Health communicable diseases unit manager Dr Linda Selvey said while
it was now peak time for meningococcal, the infection rate was no greater than usual.

She said visitors to Brisbane and Queensland for the Goodwill Games next week and CHOGM
in October were not exposing themselves to great danger.

AAP ch/sc/ldj/bwl

KEYWORD: MENINGOCOCCAL NIGHTLEAD

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