OFFICIAL statistics have revealed an alarming rise in the number of Bolton cases of a deadly form of meningitis last year. There were 34 meningicoccal septicaemia cases in the town in 1997 compared with nine in 1996. The figures were revealed in the annual report published by Dr Robert Aston, Bolton's Consultant in Communicable Disease Control.

The BEN has reported eight cases of the illness already this year.

Dr Aston presented his report to councillors at a meeting of the environment and consumer sub committee yesterday.

But stressed that there had not been "an outbreak" of the illness in Bolton, which can kill within hours.

He said that Bolton mirrored a national trend of increases in the illness.

Dr Aston praised the BEN for highlighting cases of youngsters who have made a full recovery.

He said: "There is a 10pc fatality rate, which if you turn it the other way round is a 90pc survival rate."

On the positive side, the report shows that cases of the Hib strain of meningitis fell from 36 in 1996 to 26 in 1997.

Babies are now routinely vaccinated against this strain of meningitis. The report also shows a big increase in cases of Hepatitis B and C. There were 21 cases in 1996 and 79 in 1997.

The disease is spread in blood and other body fluids.

And Dr Aston's report speculates that practices such as drug addicts sharing needles, sexual activity and the fashion for tattooing could be the cause along with falling standards of personal hygiene.

But Dr Aston said the figures were "not as dramatic as they seem."

On the positive side, the report showed there had been no cases of measles or mumps reported in Bolton since a vaccination campaign.

There were only five cases of rubella or German measles and these were in unvaccinated people.

The number of tuberculosis cases in Bolton had halved since 1991.

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