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Mum dies from meningitis a day after giving birth

18.02.11

A MUM who was seven months pregnant died after being struck down with meningitis – but medics saved her baby.

Wendy Moss was rushed to Royal Derby Hospital where doctors performed an emergency Caesarean to give her child a chance of life.

Little Isla was delivered seven weeks early, weighing only 4lb 4oz.

But Wendy never got to see her new-born daughter – because only 24 hours later she died of meningitis.

Read the full story on the Derby Telegraph website [external link]

COMMENT FROM MENINGITIS UK

Steve Dayman, the chief executive of Meningitis UK, lost his own son Spencer to the disease in 1982.

He said: "I was extremely saddened to hear about Wendy's tragic death, made all the more heartbreaking because she never got to meet her newborn daughter Isla.

"To lose someone so quickly to this terrible disease is a huge emotional challenge and my sympathies are with her family at this difficult time.

"Meningitis is an especially cruel disease because of the speed at which it strikes, sometimes killing in as little as four hours.

"Meningitis can often be incredibly difficult to detect as the symptoms are hard to distinguish from the flu, plus there are occasions when people show no or very few symptoms.

"Wendy's untimely death sadly highlights that anyone of any age can fall ill with meningitis, which makes finding a vaccine to protect people all the more important."

Meningitis UK is dedicated to funding vaccine research to eradicate all forms of the disease through its Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign.

Successful vaccines exist against some forms of meningitis, including Hib, Meningitis C and pneumococcal meningitis but there is still no vaccine for Meningitis B, which is the most common strain in this country.

The charity is offering the public free symptoms information packs to help raise awareness. These include a leaflet with all the facts and frequently asked questions, plus a 'Check the Symptoms' fridge magnet and a handy wallet-sized symptoms card.

To order your free symptoms information pack, please call 0117 373 73 73 or visit www.meningitisUK.org